China, in which he accepted US$2.5 million in aid in exchange for recognising that Taiwan was part of China. When the Cook Islands Herald published a satirical letter questioning this change in policy, Woonton attempted to have them prosecuted for criminal libel. Shortly afterward he dissolved Parliament for the election. At the 2004 election Woonton's government retained its majority, but Woonton was nearly defeated. While awaiting the result of electoral petitions, Woonton announced a new coalition with the Cook Islands Party. He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party and formed his own party, the Demo Party Tumu (later known as Cook Islands First). On 12 December 2004 a recount found that the result in Woonton's electorate of Manihiki was a tie. Woonton resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced by Jim Marurai. He did not contest the resulting 2005 Manihiki by-election. Following the election, the Cook Islands Court of Appeal ruled that Woonton's Cabinet had bribed voters in the electorate of Titikaveka in an effort to secure the election of Cabinet Minister Robert Wigmore. Post-political career In early 2005 Woonton was appointed High Commissioner to New Zealand, replacing Tom Davis. He was sacked in March 2006, following accusations that he was plotting with members of parliament to end Marurai's government. Shortly after being sacked he joined a Wellington-based development firm which planned to build a new private hospital on Rarotonga. He now works as a doctor in Auckland. In 2011 he was appointed to the Auckland Council's inaugural Pacific People's Advisory Panel. References 1949 births Living people Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands Deputy Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands Members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands High Commissioners of the Cook Islands to New Zealand Democratic Party (Cook Islands) politicians Cook Islands First Party politicians Cook Island medical doctors Cook Island emigrants to New Zealand Foreign Ministers of the Cook Islands University of Auckland alumni