Preliminary results from yesterday's by-election in the Cook Islands seat of Manihiki indicate that the seat has been won by Henry Puna.
The Cook Islands Party candidate polled 120 votes - 20 more than the Democratic Party's Apii Piho.
The seat became vacant after the former prime minister, Dr Robert Woonton, agreed to step down as MP if a court challenge over his win in the September election was withdrawn by the other candidate, Mr Puna.
Mr Puna put his win down to a number of factors...
"Obviously there's the attraction of the fact that the Cook Islands Party is in government, in coalition, and so I think that carried a lot of weight with the electors. And also that the party organisation here is very strong and also the family connections ."
Final results are expected by Saturday.
