Election 2017: Next Tukituki candidate debate at Napier Boy's High School

There was a full house at the Tukituki candidates debate at Karamu High School, on September 7.

Napier voters get a chance to hear directly from the candidates wanting to be their next MP at a Hawke's Bay Today debate on Tuesday.

The debate, at Napier Boys' High School in Napier from 6-8pm, follows a highly successful debate the paper held between the Tukituki candidates on Thursday night.

Nearly five hundred people attended the debate.

Tuesday's debate will see incumbent Napier MP and Labour Party candidate Stuart Nash square off against National Party candidate David Elliott, Maryanne Masters of the Maori Party, Karl Matthys (Democrats for Social Credit) and Damon Rusden (Green Party). Laurence Day of the Conservative Party has not yet confirmed if he will be attending.

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin, who moderated the Tukituki debate, will do the same on Tuesday night. He said he was looking forward to quizzing the Napier candidates.

"We had a good debate in Hastings with all the candidates having their moments. It was really good to hear the policies and promises."

Mr Austin said the newspaper was proud to be able to hold the debates so the community could get to know the people wanting to represent them. "It is vital in our democracy for people to make an informed decision and this is a way for them to hear directly from the candidates."

The third meeting will be a debate between the candidates for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat and will feature incumbent MP and Labour candidate Meka Whaitiri, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere of the Green Party and Maori Party List MP Marama Fox.

The meeting will be from 6pm-8pm on Thursday at Irongate School hall in Flaxmere. Mr Austin will moderate that debate as well.

Readers are invited to send questions in for both debates. No questions will be taken from the floor. Questions may be sent to editor@hbtoday.co.nz. Doors open at 5.45pm.

There will be a gold coin donation at each meeting with proceeds going to the Salvation Army.

The Tukituki debate raised $567 for the Salvation Army.