Meet the Candidates

Eight candidates standing for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and Napier Electorates attended a Meet the Candidates event before an attentive and supportive audience of 170 people on Tuesday evening.

The event, hosted at the Waiapu Cathedral, was moderated by Martin Williams. The Dean of Waiapu, The Very Reverend Ruihana Paenga opened and closed the evening with karakia.

A beautiful waiata sung by Haley Maxwell, Te Pāti Māori, began the evening as the first speaker. 

Candidates were asked several questions based on their vision for a flourishing society in Aotearoa New Zealand, their electorate’s priority issues and how they would champion them, how they would support cost-of-living pressures facing families, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change, and how they would work collaboratively with other parties.

The evening provided a valauable opportunity for members of the communityto hear directly from candidates ahead of the elections.

From left to right: Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Labour), Haley Maxwell (Te Pati Māori), Heather Te Au-Skipworth (Greens), Roy Boonen (Greens), Alex Hedley (Labour), Te Kira Lawrence (NZ First), Katie Nimon (National), and John Ormond (ACT)