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🇳🇿 New Zealand /Elections & Politics

Cook Islands Party wins historic fifth consecutive term

From RNZ Pacific · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The Cook Islands Party (CIP) has secured a historic fifth consecutive term in power, winning 13 of the 24 parliamentary seats in the 2026 general election.
  • The main opposition Democratic Party was eliminated, losing all its seats, including those of its leader and deputy leader.
  • Prime Minister Mark Brown will begin his fifth term as an MP and second as prime minister, with his party expected to form a government independently due to support from independents.

The Cook Islands Party (CIP) is poised to govern for an unprecedented fifth consecutive term following the 2026 general election, having secured a commanding majority of 13 seats in the 24-member Parliament. This victory marks a significant political milestone for the nation.

The election results delivered a devastating blow to the Democratic Party, the primary opposition, which was entirely wiped out. Both its leader, Tina Pupuke-Browne, and deputy leader, Vaitoti Tupa, lost their seats, signaling a complete collapse of their parliamentary presence.

This brings the incoming government caucus to 19 seats in the 24-member Parliament, giving them an unprecedented supermajority.

— Cook Islands NewsReporting on the election results and the CIP's strong parliamentary position.

While the Cook Islands United Party gained one seat to secure four, and independents claimed seven seats across various islands, the CIP's dominance is undeniable. Prime Minister Mark Brown, first elected in 2010, will continue his tenure, leading his party for a fifth consecutive term as an MP and his second as prime minister. His party's expected ability to form a government independently, bolstered by support from six independents, grants them a "supermajority" of 19 seats.

Brown confirmed that cabinet ministers who retained their seats would remain in their positions. The formal endorsement of the government will occur once the chief electoral officer officially gazettes the final results, solidifying the CIP's firm grip on power.

the Prime Minister has held his warrants because he's won his seat and now commands a majority

— Mark BrownExplaining the continuation of his prime ministerial authority following his election victory.
About this summary

Originally published by RNZ Pacific in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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