Election 2023: Co-governance, Treaty, Māori health, crime and cost of living topics for tonight’s debate

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The scene is set for one of the most fiery political debates when Willie Jackson and John Tamihere team up to bookend David Seymour at a debate at an Auckland nightclub tonight.

No topic will be taboo at Everybody’s nightclub, at the Imperial Buildings, Fort St, where the Taxpayers’ Union event kicks off from 7pm. It will be moderated by The Working Group podcast hosts Martyn Bradbury and Damien Grant.

Also appearing with Labour’s Jackson, Te Pāti Māori’s Tamihere and Act’s Seymour will be Simeon Brown from National, New Zealand First’s Jenny Marcroft and Ricardo Menéndez March from the Greens.

Act leader David Seymour told about 450 people at a Palmerston North public meeting the party will end "Labour's soft on crime experiment".

Bradbury said this is THE debate you won’t want to miss.

“We are passionate believers in democracy and free speech and believe an election as important as this one needs as much attention as possible, so The Working Group have teamed up with the Taxpayers’ Union and Curia Polling to livestream seven debates,” Bradbury said.

“The content and questions are independent and not influenced by anyone other than me as host.

“We are hosting the party debate where we have asked each party to send their best advocate to debate the big issues.”

Jackson said he hopes the Taxpayers’ Union gives the politicians not from National an even break.

“The Taxpayers’ Union have done very little for us, so I’ll be looking forward to them being fair and giving us an opportunity,” Jackson said.

“Plus I am looking forward to debating issues that are very important to Māori with the Act Leader Seymour.”

Joseph Los’e joined NZME in 2022 as Kaupapa Māori Editor. Los’e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and prior to joining NZME worked for 12 years for Whānau Waipareira.