Democrats for Social Credit candidate Dick Ryan was frank in his views, while Allister Tosh still refused to give much of an insight into his one-man Future Youth Party policies.
Water issues, such as water safety, quality, quantity and bottling, have grown in importance in the electorate, and the larger party candidates had defined views.
Mr Kairau said a whole-of-government approach was needed, rather than having a situation where one ministry was pushing for fresh water quality and another promoted water exports and irrigation.
"We need to start getting real."
For Mr Perley the biggest priority was human health and after that good water quality and farming could be compatible.
"A clean stream means a good farm that's not losing soil and nutrients."
Ms Lorck stressed that good, clean water for both human consumption, animals and crops and that was swimmable was a "birthright", and that the rivers had to be cleaned up.
Mr Yule was optimistic that river water quality could be improved, as could drinking water quality, which was the first priority.
When asked if he thought he should have stepped down as mayor after the Havelock North gastro outbreak, he said that the government inquiry had determined no one agency was to blame.
"If it had found the Hastings District Council had caused the outbreak I would have resigned on the spot, but I decided I needed to stay to fix the failures."
On water bottling, and whether companies should be required to turn off the tap in times of water shortages, all agreed water should be available to people and growers first.
Mr Perley said the Green Party had a policy to put a 10c a litre levy on water bottling plants, which should be regarded as a lease rather than ownership, but Mr Yule said charging for water was an issue that was separate from quantity issues and that the community had the ability to work out the priorities.
"If people and growers have to conserve water so should water bottling companies," Ms Lorck said.
All agreed on the need for decent, affordable housing, and most were in favour of restoring the Napier-Gisborne railway line for freight and passengers.
Mr Yule, however, though supportive of upgrading the Napier to Wairoa line warned that extending the line to Gisborne would be expensive and the money could be better spent elsewhere.
There were some curly, individual questions for the candidates.
Ms Lorck said she would not stand for mayor if she was unsuccessful in her bid to become MP, and Mr Yule acknowledged that a year ago he said he would stay for his full term as mayor, but that circumstances changed with former National MP Craig Foss's retirement and it was up to the people to judge him on his change of heart.
Asked if he supported former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei's admission she lied while on a benefit, Mr Perley said he supported the message she was trying to get across about poverty, but did not approve of people lying.
Mr Ryan was asked why he was standing when he encouraged people to give their electorate vote to Anna?
"She wants to be your elected representative and I think good on her - I recommend you vote for her but I'm keen that you give me your party vote so you can tell the government of both colours that you do not like that idea of overseas banks creating all the wealth."
Mr Tosh was asked whether he would now be willing to reveal any of his party's policies, but declined.
"If I disclose my policies I will be committing political suicide and I'm not prepared to do it here in front of you," he said.
When asked whether he thought NZ First and leader Winston Peters should go with Labour or National if the party was in the position of being kingmakers, Mr Kairau refused to be drawn.
"That's some crazy talk - if I happen to get to Parliament I will be told to go to the backbenches for three years and shut up - I'm not going to guess - who knows where the chicken bones will fall."
As for who had smoked pot - that was a yes from all candidates, albeit maybe only once, except for the former policeman Mr Kairau who was also not in favour of decriminalisation.