A by-election in the tiny Cook Islands electorate of Ivirua has been set for 21 January next year.
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The Ivirua constituency is one of three on the island of Mangaia and has less than 100 voters.
About 500 people live on Mangaia.
The seat became vacant with the death of Democratic Party MP Tony Armstrong last month.
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of MP Albert Nicholas continues with the government being tight-lipped as to when the long-absent MP is expected back in the country.
The opposition leader Terepai Maoate has called on the government to "come clean" and state whether Mr Nicholas is returning to assume responsibilities to his constituency and parliament.
He says for the government to leave one of the largest constituencies in the country without an MP is unfair on all the residents of the Ruatonga-Avatiu-Palmerston, (RAPPA), districts who deserve a lot better than to be left without representation.