Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Cook Islands holds by-election on Mangaia

Posted at 16:40 on 30 January, 2013 UTC

Voters in the Cook Islands constituency of Tamarua on the island of Mangaia go to the polls today in a by-election.

The Cook Island Party’s Tokorua Pareina, and the Democratic candidate, Tetangi Matapo, are contesting the seat left vacant after last year’s death of the representative, Pukeiti Pukeiti.

Only 56 voters are registered in the electorate.

An electoral officer and police officer from Rarotonga are on Mangaia to oversee polling.

The Rarotongan police officer had to be sent because Mangaia’s only police officer is the Democratic candidate’s husband.

Preliminary results are expected to be announced tonight.

Final results won’t be out until late in the week when postal votes will be included in the count.