"We're going to stop the state housing sell off, and we're going to build thousands of extra state homes."
Her opponent for the seat, Maori Party Co-leader Marama Fox, spoke of how she had been able to affect change by having "a seat at the table" in the current government.
This including papakainga developments in Hawke's Bay, which had seen "real gains in putting affordable housing in the hands of whanau now".
"I know that's not good enough, we need to build more houses and we need them done now".
From the Greens' perspective, Napier candidate Damon Rusden said any housing measures needed to go forward with the underlying idea that "housing is not a privilege, it is a right for everybody who lives in Aotearoa"
When asked about the pressure on health services, and growing demand for mental health services, the hui took on a sombre note given recent events involving teenagers in Hawke's Bay.
All candidates stated what was being done was not enough to address mental health, with underfunding of services a shared concern.
The Maori Party advocated for a complete overhaul of the mental health network, to ensure funding was being spent in the right place.
Healthcare funding would increase under Labour, Napier MP Stuart Nash said.
"We're going to fund mental health and addiction services in a way that really matters and works with our community, because at the moment it's just not working the way that we believe it should, and the way it meets our expectations."
Green's Ikaroa Rawhiti candidate Dr Elizabeth Kerekere said health could not be looked at on its own, with education, employment, and poverty connected with the health of the community.
They were promising free healthcare for every citizen, local prevention services and support, and whanau support.
Questions about child poverty, the criminal justice system, and alcohol reform were also put to the candidates.
With refreshing honesty, candidates were also asked yes or no questions about thorny issues - all agreed abortion should not be a criminal offence, and that their party would support increased funding to women's refuges. Each were also asked about their personal views on euthanasia.
They were split on legalising recreational cannabis - Mr Rusden's party supported this, the Maori Party and Labour agreed with medicinal use.
Mr Nash also suggested Labour would hold a referendum on the decriminalisation of recreational cannabis - which would mean users were not jailed.
Three Napier candidates had been unable to attend - National's David Elliott, Maori Party's Maryanne Marsters, and Democrats for Social Credit candidate Karl Matthys.