Robert Woonton

Infobox_Prime Minister
name=Robert Woonton


order= 6th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
term_start =February 11, 2002
term_end =December 11, 2004
deputy=
predecessor =Terepai Maoate
successor =Jim Marurai
constituency = ?
birth_date = 1949
birth_place = Birthplace?
death_date =
death_place =
spouse= ?
party=Democratic Party

Dr Robert Woonton (born 1949) was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from February 11 2002 until December 11 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Alliance Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the island of Manihiki. He became prime minister when his predecessor, Terepai Maoate, also a member of the DAP, resigned.In September 2004 Woonton and his government held on to power, with the DAP receiving 14 of the 24 seats. Woonton, however, was nearly defeated, and a December 2004 recount determined that the election for Woonton's seat was a tie, with Woonton and his opponent, Henry Puna, each receiving 134 votes. The government was immediately dissolved and Jim Marurai became prime minister. A byelection was held for Woonton’s seat, in which he was defeated by his opponent Henry Puna.