McGrath tops our district quiz

The candidates asking for your vote in the general election have been tested on their local knowledge of Wairarapa, with Liberterianz leader Richard McGrath coming up tops.

The Times-Age asked the six candidates for the Wairarapa electorate 14 questions about people, places and organisations in the area.

They were put to the candidates by phone, with no prior warning.

Of of the toughest questions proved to be naming Pukaha Mt Bruce's famous world-first white kiwi, which only Brent Reid could accurately name as Manukura.

But Reid performed poorly on other questions, finishing with a score of six from 14. And while the candidates may have driven the highway linking Featherston and Martinborough several times on the campaign trail, only two, Richard McGrath (Libertarianz) and Sea Rotmann (Green Party) could accurately name it as State Highway 53.

All were able to name the major Wairarapa waterway, the Ruamahanga River, perhaps because it is nationally recognised as one of the country's most polluted, and because it cuts through almost the entire Wairarapa valley.

When it came to the region's significant organisations, only two, Hayes and Atkinson, were able to name South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Jack Dowds.

And though Wairarapa is a farming district only Mr Atkinson knew Paul McGill was Wairarapa's Federated Farmers president.

Mr Hayes went for immediate past president Anders Crofoot and Brent Reid elevated retired Masterton District councillor Roddy McKenzie to the role.

Five of the six knew our representative rugby team wear red and green - even Dr Rotmann, who passed on two other sporting questions, saying "I don't do sport".

But when it came to women's rugby, the results were not so good.

Labour's Michael Bott and Dr McGrath knew the Eketahuna women's team were a champion side, but the others had no idea.

See if you can beat the candidates

1) Who is South Wairarapa District Council chief executive?

2) What is the name of Wairarapa's longest river?

3) Who is coach of Wairarapa United?

4) On which Carterton street is the town's new Events Centre?

5) Which is farther north, Castlepoint or Riversdale?

6) What colours do the Wairarapa-Bush rep rugby team wear?

7) Which MP represented Wairarapa from 1988 to 1999?

8) What is the children's playground in QE Park called?

9) Who is Wairarapa Federated Farmers president?

10) Which Wairarapa team won the Wellington women's rugby championship last season?

11) Who is chair of Wairarapa District Health Board?

12) Who is principal of Wairarapa College?

13) What is the name of our white kiwi?

14) Which state highway joins Featherston and Martinborough?

Answers below

Answers: Dr Jack Dowds; Ruamahanga River; Phil Keinzley; Holloway St; Castlepoint; Red and Green; Wyatt Creech; Kids Own; Paul McGill; Eketahuna; Bob Francis; Mike Schwass; Manukura; State Highway 53.