First meet the candidates meeting on tonight

Election candidates for the Tauranga electorate will speak at a meet the candidates meeting tonight. File photo

They want your votes and tonight you can find out why.

Tauranga election hopefuls will front for a 'meet the candidates' evening at the Wesley Church Centre on 13th Ave from 7-9pm.

It is a free event and anyone is welcome to attend. Organisers have said they would be asking for a koha or donation to help cover the cost of the venue.

All candidates known to be standing in the Tauranga election have said they will attend or be represented.

Each person will have two minutes each to introduce themselves and their parties, before answering pre-supplied questions from each of the organising groups.

Questions will cover work and business, education, income, inequality, communities and health.

They will then take questions from the audience before each giving a two-minute summary.

The event has been organised by the Tauranga branches of the PPTA, Closing the Gap and New Zealand Nurses Association, along with Social Link Tauranga. It is supported by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. Eric Hape will be the MC.

Tauranga candidates

- Emma-Leigh Hodge (Greens)
- Vanessa Lee (The Opportunities Party)
- Clayton Mitchell (New Zealand First)
- Jan Tinetti (Labour)
- Rusty Kane (Independent)
- Stuart Pedersen (ACT)
- Raewyn Bennett (Maori Party)
- Simon Bridges (National - current MP)

Bay of Plenty candidate Todd Muller will stand in for Mr Bridges tonight.