New mayor appointed for Southern Islands

The Elections Office released the final vote count for the 2024 island government election this week, with the new mayor, who was ahead in the preliminary count, being declared the winner.

The 2024 Cook Islands government elections are held on August 15 and will be held on the islands of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manihiki, Mauke, Mitiaro, Pukapuka, Nassau, Penrhyn and Rakahanga.

Final census results for Aitutaki, Mangaia, Atiu, Mauk and Mitiaro were released on Thursday, and new mayors for the islands were elected.

In Aitutaki, Nicholas Royle Henry was announced as the new major, Atiu – Timau-Ariki James Smith Mokoroa, Mangaia – Ngateina Rani, Mauke – Joanne Rongoape Stephens and Mitiaro – Tati Tutaka.

In Aitutaki, Nicholas Royal Henry was appointed as the new mayor. In Atiu, Timaau-Ariki James Smith Mokoroa was elected mayor, in Mangaia Ngateina Rani was elected mayor, and in Mauke and Mitiaro, Tati Tutaka was elected mayor.

Across Paenua, voter turnout was reported to be high, with more than 90 per cent of registered voters exercising their right to do so, demonstrating active voter participation in electing a new island leader.

The high turnout reflects the importance residents place on local governance in their island communities and their desire for change in the mayor’s leadership role.

The final vote count for South Paenua was announced on Thursday; however, the results for the northern region have not yet been announced as the ballots are still on the island.

“We expect the documents to arrive any time next week,” said Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua.

“The results of the North Island group election will be determined and announced as soon as possible.”

Tangimetua explained that disputed elections or petitions should be filed within 14 days of the publication of the public notice of the election of the elected members.

“While we have received complaints, we have not received any so far,” she said.

There was no candidate for the Iwirua constituency in Mangaia County, with the two candidates, Upokoongo Tairea and Pirimetua Uakino, receiving 19 votes each.

Tangimetua announced that the Iwerua constituency is currently vacant and a date for a by-election will be set.

Aitutaki, the most populous island in the Paenua group, had a primary turnout of 1,127 and a high turnout of 970.

All mayoral candidates saw their vote counts increase in the final count.

New Aitutaki Mayor Nicholas “Nick” Henry added 63 votes to his final tally of 37, followed by former Mayor Te Kula Bishop, who added 49 votes to his final tally of 333, and Charlie Tamoh, who added 41 votes to his final tally of 258.

Mangaia constituency is the second largest constituency with a total of 321 voters, of which 300 voters participated in the polls.

Both mayoral candidates in Mangaia, Ngateina Rani and Makitua Tutai, saw increases in the final count – Rani’s final count was 153 votes, an increase of 11 votes, while Tutai’s final count was 147 votes, an increase of nine votes.

The final vote count in Atiu matched the primary results. There were 239 voters in the municipality, 232 of whom voted, of which 79 voted for Timau-Ariki James Smith Mokoroa as mayor.

In Mauke, Joanne Rongoape Stephens maintained her lead, with the final count showing her vote increased by one, bringing her total to 53. Of the 218 on the main voting list, 190 voted in Mauke.

There were 97 voters in Mitiaro, 89 of whom participated in the voting, and Tati Tutaka was elected as the new mayor with 46 votes (an increase of 3 votes over the initial count).

Palmerston Island is a unique island nation whose island government is elected by the Matavia, Akakaingaro and Tepou Tenioi families.

Palmerston’s mayor is Robert “Bob” Masters from the Matavia line, and councillors are Tupou Masters – Matavia, Arthur Frederick Neal – Akakaingaro, Juliana Oniglai Masters – Akakaingaro, Tape Goodley Masters – Tepou Tenioi and Simon Masters – Tepou Tenioi.

The Paenua Islands play a vital role in the Cook Islands, contributing to the country’s cultural heritage, natural environment and economic activity.

Island government elections help ensure that these outer islands have a say in the overall governance of the Cook Islands.

Under the Island Government Act 2012-2013, the functions of an island government are to: provide for good, efficient and effective governance of the islands in accordance with the duties conferred on it by this Act or any other law.

Island government elections follow a decentralized model, with each island in the Paenua Archipelago having its own local government, and each island electing its own mayor and council.

This enables the Outer Island communities to govern themselves and manage local affairs and issues affecting their communities.

More than 2,000 people are entitled to vote in the 2024 island government elections.