2015 Vaipae-Tautu by-election

Election in the Cook Islands A by-election was held in the Cook Islands constituency of Vaipae-Tautu on 31 March 2015. It was won by Mona Ioane, the Cook Islands Party candidate, consolidating the ruling party's slender majority in Parliament. Context and candidates In the July 2014 general election, the contest for the Vaipae-Tautu seat had been won by Cook Islands Party candidate Mona Ioane, who went on to serve as Education Minister in Prime Minister Henry Puna's government. Ioane's election to Parliament was voided by the Court of Appeal on 17 December, reducing the Puna government to a minority government. The by-election would therefore be crucial both to the government and to the Opposition Democratic Party. If they won the seat, the Democrats "could assume power in coalition with the One Cook Islands Movement" (OCIM). OCIM leader Teina Bishop indicated his party would not run a candidate against Democratic candidate Kete Ioane, and would in fact support the latter's campaign. The by-election was initially due to be held on 17 February 2015."Cook Islands by-election revives opposition hopes", Radio New Zealand, 24 December 2014 But Democratic Party candidate's Kete Ioane's sudden death on 13 February led to a postponement. The election will now be held on 31 March."Cook Islands by-election postponed after candidate Kete Ioane dies", Radio Australia, 13 February 2015"Cook Islands readies for re-scheduled by-election", Radio New Zealand, 24 February 2015 At the start of March, the One Cook Islands Movement reversed its decision not to stand against the Democrats, and announced Amiria Davey as its candidate."One Cook Islands to stand candidate", Radio New Zealand, 2 March 2015 The Cook Islands Party maintained Mona Ioane as its candidate."Mother of 12 contesting Aitutaki by-election", Radio New Zealand International, 5 March 2015 The Democrats selected Kete Ioane's widow, Teinakore Ioane."Widow stands for Cooks Democrats", Radio New Zealand International, 6 March 2015 Results Mona Ioane Cook Islands Party 174 Amiria Davey One Cook Islands Movement 98 Teinakore Ioane Democratic Party 96 1 April 2015 The Cook Islands Gazette No. 29/2015 https://www.loc.gov/resource/llflg.2004217240_20150401_05/?sp=1 Library of Congress References expanded Category:By-elections in the Cook Islands Category:2015 elections in Oceania Category:2015 in the Cook Islands Category:March 2015 in Oceania