March 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election

A by-election was held in the Cook Islands constituency of Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua on 18 March 2019.[1] The by-election was called following the defection of sitting MP Te-Hani Brown from the Democratic Party in January in order to support the government of Henry Puna, which triggered a by-election under election law.[2][3] Brown ran as an independent with the support of the Cook Islands Party against Nandi Glassie, whom Brown had beaten in the 2018 Cook Islands general election.[4]

March 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election
18 March 2019
Constituency of Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua
Turnout99.2%
  First party Second party
 
Ind.
Candidate Te-Hani Brown Nandi Glassie
Party Independent Democratic
Popular vote 78 45
Percentage 63.41% 36.59%
MP before election

Te-Hani Brown
Democratic

 Elected MP

Te-Hani Brown
Independent

Politics of the Cook Islands

Results
March 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election[2][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Te-Hani Brown 78 63.41
Democratic Nandi Glassie 45 36.59
Majority 33 26.82
Turnout 123 99.2
Independent gain from Democratic Swing

Aftermath

Although Brown retained her seat, Glassie filed a petition against her victory. He alleged that she had effectively bribed voters by covering the charge of a private aircraft to carry voters to vote on Atiu; Brown maintained that this did not constitute an offence.[6] Brown resigned in April 2019 during the process of the petition through the courts and although Glassie was allowed to challenge the election result, this was reversed on appeal.[6][7] Brown's seat was declared vacant in September 2019, triggering another by-election.[8]

References
  1. "PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 1 TENGATANGI-AREORA-NGATIARUA BY ELECTION 2019" (PDF). Government of the Cook Islands. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. "Te-Hani Brown wins Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. "Party hopping rules could affect Cooks MP's plans". Radio New Zealand. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. "Cook Islands Party will not contest Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua by-election". Fiji Times. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. "Parliamentary By-Election Main Electoral Roll 2019 Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua Constituency" (PDF). Government of the Cook Islands. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. "Cook Islands electoral petition decision reserved". Radio New Zealand. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. "Re-elected Cooks MP resigns during petition process". Radio New Zealand. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  8. "DECLARATION OF VACANT SEAT IN THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COOK ISLANDS" (PDF). Government of the Cook Islands. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2021.


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