Voters hear candidates in Waiariki electorate debate

VOTERS: Waiariki candidates try to win over voters at a debate at Te Puia's Rotowhio Marae tonight. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Rotorua residents are getting the chance to hear their candidates for the hotly contested Waiariki electorate put their case to voters tonight.

Three of the four Waiariki electorate candidates - incumbent MP Te Ururoa Flavell, Labour's Rawiri Waititi and the Mana Movement's Annette Sykes took to the stage at Te Puia's Rotowhio Marae in front of about 120 people.

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Tauranga-based New Zealand Independent Coalition candidate Pat Spellman did not attend.

The candidates debated everything including Whanau Ora, health, education and employment.

Adjudicator Reverend Tom Poata said each of the candidates was trying to encourage Maori to participate in the election.

"We Maori are different, we are very competitive but we are very fair. We do not need to hack emails to know about our candidates."

The trio were given eight questions with two minutes to answer each question.

Meanwhile, Ms Sykes was announced at second on the Mana Movement's party list late this afternoon.

First on the list is party leader Hone Harawira and third is veteran activist John Minto.

Ms Sykes sits at number three on the combined Internet Mana Party list behind Mr Harawira and Laila Harre.