Agnes Helen Armstrong has secured the Ivirua seat uncontested, leaving 62 candidates to compete for the remaining Cook Islands parliamentary seats in the August 12 general election.
With the 2026 general election just a month away, one of the 24 parliamentary seats has already been decided.
The close of nominations revealed that a seat in Mangaia went unopposed. Incumbent Member of Parliament Agnes Helen Armstrong is set to be elected uncontested after emerging as the sole candidate for the Ivirua constituency.
Armstrong, who has served as a Democratic Party MP since 2019, chose to run as an independent in the upcoming general election to be held on Wednesday, 12 August.
The final list of candidates released after nominations closed confirmed that Ivirua had only one contender.
Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua told Cook Islands News that Armstrong will be officially declared elected, meaning residents in Ivirua will not need to cast a ballot.
Tangimetua noted that while rare, uncontested seats have occurred in past elections, most recently in Ivirua in 2014, Penrhyn in 2006 and Ivirua in 2004.
Speaking to Cook Islands newspaper, Armstrong, who entered politics after the unfortunate passing of her husband and former Ivirua MP in 2018, paid tribute to the people from her constituency for their decision.
“It is what the people of Ivirua have wanted, to be united, come together as one people, and to (maintain) peace in the village, instead of dividing, you know, politics divides people … that’s what our village wanted, to come together as one” Armstrong said.
“And I think if you’re always in contact with your people, you’re talking with them all the time and keeping them up to speed with what’s going on, what their values and what they want, and I think that’s where this (decision) comes from.
“We give thanks to our Lord that He’s paved the way for us to all come together as one people.”
Armstrong said the decision of which party to join post-election would ultimately rest with her people.
“Well, we’ll come together as a village, as a community. We’ll talk about it, see what our options are, and we’ll go from there,’ she said.
“I will be led by my people. I won’t make decisions on my own. I will be talking to my people, and we’ll collectively move forward.
“I’ve been talking to people from all parties and independents. But like I said, it’ll basically come down to what my people want because they will have the final say.”
Armstrong urged other candidates to put their people first in this election.
“I’d just like to encourage everybody else out there to do the right thing, to do it for their people. It’s our people that we need to look after first. And keep the Lord in front of you. He will guide you.”
A total of 63 candidates has been confirmed for the 2026 general election, down from the 71 who contested the 2022 election. This year’s lineup includes 49 men and 14 women.
The governing Cook Islands Party is fielding the highest number of candidates with 20, followed by the Cook Islands United Party with 14 and the Democratic Party with 12. Additionally, there are 12 independents, two candidates from the Progressive Party, two representing Independent-Enuamanu, and one candidate from the newly formed Independence Party.
Compared to the 2022 election, the Democratic Party has experienced the greatest loss of candidates, with several former members now running under different political banners or as independents.
Among the most notable defections are Ngamau Mere “Macan” Munokoa, who has moved from the Democratic Party to the Cook Islands United Party to contest Nikao-Panama, and Dr Teina Rongo, who will stand for the Cook Islands United Party in Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston.
Former Democratic Party candidate Nooroa Baker will contest Murienua for the Cook Islands Party, while Tetangi Matapo, the incumbent Tamarua MP for Democrats since 2014, will contest this year’s election as an independent.
The Cook Islands Party has also lost two former candidates to the independent ranks. Incumbent Tupapa Maraerenga MP George “Maggie” Angene, who recorded the highest individual vote in the 2022 election, will contest Manihiki as an independent, while former Amuri-Ureia candidate Nicholas Royle Henry is also standing as an independent. The incumbent One Cook Islands MP for Amuri-Ureia, Toanui Isamaela, will contest under the Cook Islands Party banner.
Meanwhile, two incumbent independent MPs, who were part of the CIP government, have formalised their political alliance under the new Independent-Enuamanu banner. Te-Hani Rose Alexandra Brown will again contest Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua, while Vainetutai Rose Brown-Toki will seek re-election in Teenui-Mapumai.
The Democratic Party has also gained one candidate from the Cook Islands United Party, with Paul Raui Pokoati Allsworth switching parties to contest Mitiaro.
