Robert Woonton

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Dr Robert Woonton (born 1949) was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from February 11, 2002 until December 11, 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Alliance Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the island of Manihiki. He became prime minister when his predecessor, Terepai Maoate, also a member of the DAP, resigned. In September 2004 Woonton and his government held on to power, with the DAP receiving 14 of the 24 seats. Woonton, however, was nearly defeated, and a December 2004 recount determined that the election for Woonton's seat was a tie, with Woonton and his opponent, Henry Puna, each receiving 134 votes. The government was immediately dissolved and Jim Marurai became prime minister. A byelection was held for Woonton’s seat, in which he was defeated by his opponent Henry Puna.