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Cook Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Cook Islands

Queen Elizabeth II Queen's Representative Prime Minister Jim Marurai Parliament Political parties Elections

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Politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic associated state, whereby the Queen of New Zealand, represented in the Cook Islands by the Queen's Representative, is the Head of State, and the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand and are fully responsible for internal affairs. New Zealand retains some responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent years the Cook Islands has taken on more of its own external affairs and as of 2005 has diplomatic relations in its own name with 18 other countries. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of the Cook Islands. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Contents 1 Executive branch 2 Legislative branch 3 Political parties and elections 4 International organization participation 5 External link

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
Queen	Elizabeth II		6 February 1952
Queen's Representative	Sir Frederick Goodwin KBE		9 February 2001
Prime Minister	Jim Marurai	DAP	14 December 2004

The monarch is hereditary; her representative is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Cook Islands Government. The cabinet is chosen by the prime minister and collectively responsible to Parliament. Ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe Williams. Williams had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Party (DAP). On 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai Maoate was sworn in as prime minister. He was succeeded by his co-partisan Robert Woonton. When Dr Woonton lost his seat in the 2004 elections, Jim Marurai took over. Following uncertainty about the ability of the government to maintain its majority, the Queen's representative dissolved parliament mid-way through its term and a 'snap' election was held on 26 September 2006. Jim Marurai's Democratic Party retained the Treasury benches with an increased majority. The New Zealand High Commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government.

The Parliament of the Cook Islands has 24 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.

For other political parties see List of political parties in the Cook Islands. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in the Cook Islands.

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Summary of the 7 September 2004 Cook Islands Parliament of the Cook Islands election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Democratic Alliance Party		47.2	12
Cook Islands Party		44.2	11
Tumu Enua		2.4	-
Non partisans		6.2	-
Seat to be decided			1
Uncontested seat			1
Total (turnout 81.6 %)			24
Source: Cook Islands News preliminary results

AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Also see: Cook Islands Diplomatic Missions

Constitution of the Cook Islands and amendments http://www.paclii.org/ck/legis/num_act/cotci327/

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Associate members	French Polynesia · New Caledonia
Observers	Tokelau · Timor-Leste (special observer)