2002 Kiribati parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on 29 November 2002, with a second round on 8 December. The result was a victory for the new Pillars of Truth party, which won 17 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly. Fourteen MPs, including seven cabinet ministers lost their seats in the election.

Campaign

A total of 176 candidates contested the election, with over half running under the banner of the ruling Protect the Maneaba party.

A bitter election campaign included opposition leader Harry Tong accusing the government of attempting to prevent him using the national coat of arms on his campaign material, which also claiming that Chinese government officials were attempting to bribe candidates. In response, the ruling party accused the opposition of siding with Taiwan.

Results

Party		Seats	+/–
	Pillars of Truth	17	New
	Protect the Maneaba	7	–7
	Independents	16	+1
Total		40	0
Source: Adam Carr, IPU

By constituency

Constituency	Candidate	First round		Second round
		Votes	%	Votes	%
Abaiang	Emile Uri Shutz	No data
	Teatao Teannaki	No data		937	28.67
	Bauro Tongaai	No data		902	27.60
	Kautu Tenaaua	No data		822	25.15
	Uakerita Kanoanie	No data		607	18.57
	Nabura Nikuata	No data
	Rabeka T. Rikameta	No data
	Ratinta Moote	No data
	Nauto Tekai	No data
	Atanibora Tataua	No data
Abemama	Natan Teewe	661	31.09
	Willie Tokataake	607	28.55	527	47.74
	Baitongo Taburimai	416	19.57	266	24.09
	Kabure Temariti	266	12.51	311	28.17
	Amwatia Maerietoa	176	8.28
Aranuka	Amberoti Nikora	240	61.54
	Tekabang Ratintera	150	38.46
Arorae	Teima Onorio	257	38.88	293	48.67
	Itaea Riteri	190	28.74	179	29.73
	Uria Mataio	109	16.49	130	21.59
	Ruewita Iotin	88	13.31
	Tebwatoki Tawetia	17	2.57
Banaba	Timon A. Aneri	82	50.62
	Kakiaterara Bauretia	30	18.52
	Nenem Kourabi	27	16.67
	Aberaam Tewai	23	14.20
Beru	Tetabo Nakara	595	33.02
	Kirabuke Teiaua	230	12.76	325	32.66
	Biribo Neemia	225	12.49	401	40.30
	Tewareka Borau	208	11.54	269	27.04
	Tokintekai Uereti	188	10.43
	Tiraim Aaram	159	8.82
	Arobete Iuta	155	8.60
	Katiotio Reirei	22	1.22
	Rameka Barao	20	1.11
Betio (BTC)	Tamwi Naotarai	1,879	24.43	2,247	31.18
	Reete Bokai	1,255	16.32	2,023	28.07
	Teiraoi Tetabea	1,044	13.58	1,416	19.65
	Tonganibeia Taam	800	10.40	1,521	21.10
	Mere T Rivata	610	7.93
	Baikia Airam	577	7.50
	Harry Redfern	369	4.80
	Teaki Kanoanie	336	4.37
	Raoranti J Muller	240	3.12
	Ngutu Awira	229	2.98
	Atanimarewe Atintoa	163	2.12
	Kantara Baurerei	117	1.52
	Itinteang Tenano	71	0.92
Butaritari	Uera Rabaua	745	27.85
	Tinian Relher	511	19.10	635	44.34
	Tiim Taekiti	499	18.65	377	26.33
	Toakai Koririntetaake	494	18.47	420	29.33
	Alexander Teabo	279	10.43
	Fenua Mareweia	147	5.50
Kiritimati	Taunga Smith	618	17.94	951	28.46
	Tawita Temoku	489	14.20	929	27.80
	Teambo Keariki	462	13.41	652	19.51
	Jacob Teem	459	13.33	810	24.24
	Itua Binataake	346	10.05
	Bunatao Arioka	218	6.33
	Tekinaiti Kaiteie	146	4.24
	Aneri Ari	118	3.43
	Rutio Bangao	116	3.37
	Rereao Tebau	105	3.05
	Temari Manoa	87	2.53
	Tiaon Noteabu	75	2.18
	Etekia Kunei	74	2.15
	Teoro Teatea	37	1.07
	Moiaua Toariri	29	0.84
	Kamatua Bukaireiti	25	0.73
	Martin M Boutu	24	0.70
	Uriam Williams	16	0.46
Kuria	Baraniko Moa	233	44.21	235	37.01
	Bakeua Tekita	201	38.14	253	39.84
	Karotu Teimarawa	88	16.70	147	23.15
	Nawaia Tekeea	5	0.95
Maiana	Anote Tong	591	31.09
	Rotite Uriam	453	23.83	382	36.59
	Moteti Kakoroa	412	21.67	361	34.58
	Teiwaki Areieta	357	18.78	301	28.83
	Tabia Kabaua	88	4.63
Makin	James Taom	288	37.16	342	44.88
	Kouramaere Kautoa	194	25.03	231	30.31
	Marouea Kamraratu	140	18.06	189	24.80
	Kiatamoa Kaitara	70	9.03
	Mwamwau Taake	56	7.23
	Kauaba Ibutuna	27	3.48
Marakei	Temate Ereateti	375	20.12	440	25.64
	Rutiano Benetito	353	18.94	484	28.21
	Manraoi Kaiea	315	16.90	391	22.79
	Patrick J Tatireta	313	16.79	401	23.37
	Ataraoti Bwebwenibure	275	14.75
	Tam'atau Baraam	128	6.87
	Anetoka Babetara	105	5.63
Nikunau	Rimeta Beniamina	477	34.44
	Teweia Awira	217	15.67	308	39.19
	Ioane Tokintekai	208	15.02	232	29.52
	Kaaneang Betero	120	8.66	246	31.30
	Temaro Bamatoa	101	7.29
	Mikaio Rorobuaka	101	7.29
	Tewake Taniara	77	5.56
	Tieon Kaeba	60	4.33
	Timwa Teimakin	24	1.73
Nonouti	Ieremia Tabai	592	31.67
	Waysang Kum Kee	465	24.88	488	43.30
	Ata Etekia	413	22.10	176	15.62
	Katua Tabunga	170	9.10	463	41.08
	Kunei Etekiera	120	6.42
	Bitamoana Bureneita	92	4.92
	Teetu Teinai	17	0.91
North Tarawa (ETC)	Katotika Tekee	915	30.21
	Bauro Tenano	688	22.71	681	42.70
	Katarake Tebweao	565	18.65	394	24.70
	Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa	474	15.65	520	32.60
	Bwateriki Bwaree	349	11.52
	Namwanoku Tekanene	38	1.25
Onotoa	Natanaera Kirata	394	29.08
	Beta Tentoa	355	26.20	343	45.67
	Nutea Williams	247	18.23	259	34.49
	Riteti Eritama	144	10.63	149	19.84
	Benati Nenebati	108	7.97
	Katatia Tauteang	107	7.90
South Tarawa (TUC)	Harry Tong	3,517	26.65
	Teburoro Tito	3,279	24.85	3,426	31.08
	Roniti Teiwaki	1,219	9.24	3,037	27.55
	Tabwea Teitiniman	1,215	9.21	1,758	15.95
	Bweitu Nabau	854	6.47	2,801	25.41
	Nauan Bauro	748	5.67
	Tom Awira	515	3.90
	Biara Teanoana	342	2.59
	Tetika Teraku	304	2.30
	Tekarei Russell	297	2.25
	Abureti Takaio	226	1.71
	Bwenawa Io	209	1.58
	Mautaake Tannang	182	1.38
	Paul Tatireta	138	1.05
	Kaobunang Areieta	102	0.77
	Burataea Kaibaki	50	0.38
Tabiteuea North	Taberannang Timeon	878	34.72
	Teaiwa Tenieu	619	24.48	500	36.42
	Martin Puta Tofinga	578	22.85	700	50.98
	Tetaua Taitai	397	15.70	173	12.60
	Tebaniman Tito	57	2.25
Tabiteuea South	Riino Nautonga	219	43.98	245	49.60
	Nantokana Meritera	165	33.13	221	44.74
	Tekaruru Teatau	79	15.86	28	5.67
	Karotu Teubwaitoi	35	7.03
Tabuaeran	Kokoria Rakoroa	145	23.27	187	24.38
	Tiinia Mariano	140	22.47	480	62.58
	Tiare Bauro	101	16.21	100	13.04
	Bakatie	100	16.05
	Rooti Teaotai	65	10.43
	Tauiaong Chin Song	36	5.78
	Taan	28	4.49
	Vakariki Maiolonga	8	1.28
Tamana	Kabetite Mwetaka	327	71.24
	Tabuata Tibereta	84	18.30
	Toakauriri Autaene	48	10.46
Teraina	Tetaake Eria	125	29.27	186	43.16
	Raerang Teangauba	88	20.61	130	30.16
	Koureia Uereie	81	18.97	115	26.68
	Kantara Beiaun	72	16.86
	Kieni Kanitou	18	4.22
	Tuua Tebiria	16	3.75
	Ritiata E Matiare	9	2.11
	Taburimai Baabu	7	1.64
	Tuangeri Roubena	7	1.64
	Baiteke Terii	4	0.94

Aftermath

Following the election, three independents allied with the Pillars of Truth. The new MPs were sworn in on 9 January 2003.