A New Zealand judge has arrived in Rarotonga to begin hearing election petitions which could decide which party wins the Cook Islands general elections.
The Cook Islands Herald newspaper reports that the opposition Cook Islands Party is expected to lodge up to seven petitions against results, alleging irregularities.
If most of these are successful it could change the election result.
The governing Democratic Party has 15 seats while the opposition has eight.
One tied outcome is expected to be decided in a by-election.
