Labour Party candidate Tamati Coffey and newly-elected Mount Roskill MP Michael Wood spoke to Tauranga locals in Arataki this evening about the issues facing people both locally and nationally.
Mr Coffey is Labour's candidate for the Waiariki seat, currently held by Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. Mr Wood was elected to represent Mount Roskill in a byelection in December after Phil Goff won the Auckland mayoralty.
Mr Coffey spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times before the meeting and said he wanted to speak on income inequality and the "desperation" felt by New Zealanders, including some in Tauranga, at the moment.
He visited Merivale Primary a few months ago and was astonished that staff members had been taking in families last year as affording housing in the area was diminishing.
"Families living on the bread line who can't afford to live in the houses that surround their school because they are being snapped up by investors that aren't necessary living in those houses. That puts real pressure on the local community," he said.