Wairarapa debate

Wairarapa candidates faced quick fire questions on vaping, housing, methamphetamine and water storage during a Monday night debate.

Candidates present

Incumbent MP Mike Butterick, Labour's Kieran McAnulty, Green Party's Lauren Craig, ACT's Rob Douglas and NZ First's Ron Mark attended the debate.

Voters' concerns

Voters Peter and Janie Bell said they wanted to hear candidates' ideas on education and healthcare but felt disappointed by responses.

“I didn't get exactly what I wanted out of it, and I would have liked them to be more specific with what they were going to offer”

Hakes' vote decision

Lyn and Fred Hakes said National is starting to get them on top and they will vote for National to avoid going backwards.

“National is starting to get us on top - if we change governments now we are going to go backwards again ... We're not going to get ahead”

McAnulty's quip

Labour candidate McAnulty joked that government energy policy was almost as dumb as selling ferries to earn laughter.

“It's almost as dumb as selling the ferries”

Meth debate

ACT candidate Douglas was heckled for not answering meth crisis questions directly, while McAnulty accused him of misrepresenting the issue.

“Firstly Kieran, I didn't say that meth had gone down, I said that crime had gone down - so please don't misrepresent me”

Water storage debate

McAnulty opposed fast track water storage dam legislation, saying it disregards environmental court decisions and community voice.

“It disregards previous environmental court decisions and totally disregards community voice - we will change that so those two things are an integral part of any fast track regime”

Butterick's re-election pitch

National candidate Butterick said water is critical for rural growth and wants to give provincial New Zealand a voice in Parliament.

“If we want to attract growth, if we want to add value to what we grow - water is one of the critical critical elements”

Young voter concerns

11-year-old Lagi Sauni-Keys worried about New Zealand's future and asked for more focus on education, health and pollution.

“I'm worried about the future of New Zealand and what it will be when I can vote. I want to see more focus on education, health, social issues and pollution”

Parental election anxiety

Lagi's mother Ina Patisolo felt nervous about the 2026 election given the state of Aotearoa and the world.

“I'm pretty nervous. It flumoxes me why it is so close given the state of Aotearoa and the world ... we're on a hopeless and scary trajectorary for our future generations”