2004 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004.^[1] Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin,^[2] but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed,^[3] delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December. In the interim, Prime Minister Robert Woonton announced that he was forming a coalition government with the rival Cook Islands Party.^[4] This led to a split within the Democrats, with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party.^[5] With 14 MPs, the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.

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2004 Cook Islands general election

← 1999 7 September 2004 2006 →

24 seats in the Parliament 13 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Democratic Terepai Maoate 47.36 14 +4 Cook Islands Geoffrey Henry 43.79 9 −2 Independents Piho Rua 6.47 1 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Robert Woonton Democratic Robert Woonton Democratic

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The results of the electoral petitions saw the seat of Titikaveka change hands^[6] while Woonton's seat was a dead tie. Woonton subsequently resigned in order to fight a by-election,^[7] causing his government to be dissolved. He was succeeded by his deputy, Jim Marurai.^[8]