Woonton's announcement on 15 November 2004 that he was forming a coalition with the rival Cook Islands Party with himself as Prime Minister.
[1] This touched off a bitter struggle within the Democrats, which ultimately saw Woonton and his Health Minister Peri Vaevae Pare expelled from the party.
[2] Initially the party consisted of 4 MPs: Woonton, Pare, then-education minister Jim Marurai and Democratic backbenchers Teenui Mapumai and Poko Simpson.
Woonton subsequently resigned his seat in order to fight a by-election,[4] causing his government to be dissolved.
The coalition held,[5] with Woonton's deputy Jim Marurai replacing him as Prime Minister as part of a deal which would see CIP leader Geoffrey Henry replace him after two years.