A report from the Cook Islands says the Matavera seat of MP Peri Vaevae Pare will not be declared vacant in the immediate future.
This follows Pare's recent conviction on corruption charges and his application
for leave to appeal the conviction.
The Cook Islands News says the chief justice has granted Pare leave to appeal and has ordered a stay of the convictions until the appeal is heard next year.
The newspaper says at the same time as it granted the stay, the chief justice granted leave to the Crown Law office to appeal the sentence.
This means that if the conviction is confirmed on appeal the Crown will seek a harsher sentence.
