Te-Hani Brown Photo: Cook Islands Party
A newly re-elected MP in the Cook Islands, Te-Hani Brown, has resigned her seat on Atiu.
This comes just two weeks after Ms Brown won back the Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua seat after she forced a by-election by crossing the floor and joining the minority Cook Islands Party in government.
However the resignation comes as defeated candidate Nandi Glassie had a petition in the High Court challenging the result of the by-election.
His lawyers are seeking clarification on what happens when a successful candidate resigns during the petition process.
Whatever the outcome the matter plunges the country into further political turmoil just days before parliament sits for the first time this year.
