Akaiti Puna last week won the Manihiki byelection, bolstering the ruling coalition s majority.
Akaiti Puna (left) with husband Henry Puna and former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in the Cook Islands, 2012.
Photo: Ola Thorsen
With 82 votes, Puna beat Munokoa Maraeara of the Democratic Party with 32 votes and Temu Okotai from Independent who won five votes.
Puna s win restores the Cook Islands Party coalition government s majority of 13 to 11 seats in the 24-member Parliament.
Prime Minister Mark Brown has congratulated Mrs Puna, saying he s looking forward to her participation in the government.
Brown said that Puna s win has shown that Manihiki has spoken loudly that she, and the government, have the support of a clear majority of the population of the island.