The opposition Cook Islands Party wins a byelection in Matavera, leaving the Government without a majority.
In 2006, Rua aligned himself with the opposition Cook Islands Party in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the governing coalition in a confidence vote.
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Three candidates contested the by-election: the Democratic Party's Geoffrey Heather, husband of the former MP; the Cook Islands Party's Vaine Wichman, and Cook Islands National Party leader Teariki Heather.