11 May 2012

Siblings to stand in Cook Islands by-election

7:22 am on 11 May 2012

A brother and sister will oppose each other in a by-election in the Cook Islands next month, with the Democratic Party and Cook Islands Party officially announcing their candidates this week.

The Democrats have chosen Selina Matenga-Napa to contest the Titikaveka seat made vacant by the death of former opposition leader Robert Wigmore.

Her brother Teariki Matenga Jnr will represent the Cook Islands Party.

Their father, Dr Teariki Matenga Snr, had been an MP and was patron of the Democratic Party.

Teariki Jnr, ran in the constituency in 2010 as an independent.

Selina, a Cooks Islands netball representative, had previously worked as an election campaign manager for Robert Wigmore.

A third candidate, Teava Iro, will stand in Titikaveka as an independent.