18 Aug 2017

Voters head to the polls in Cook Islands by-election

8:13 am on 18 August 2017

Voters on Mangaia in the Cook Islands are going to the polls today in a local by-election.

Cook Islands flag

Cook Islands flag Photo: RNZ/ Tim Glasgow

80 people are entitled to vote in the Ivirua electorate.

The opposition Democratic Party nominated Tony Armstrong as it tries to secure a replacement for Jim Marurai who resigned for health reasons.

Mr Armstrong is being challenged by Orauamai Harry of the ruling Cook Islands Party.

A win by Mr Harry would bolster the Cook Islands Party's majority to 14 and give it the numbers to tackle promised political reforms.

The chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua said the by-election should cost less than the $US10,000 budgeted for the poll.