# Wairarapa candidates debate vaping, housing, meth and water

> Wairarapa candidates face tough questions on vaping, housing, meth and water storage during election debate.
- Title: Wairarapa candidates debate vaping, housing, meth and water
- Summary: Wairarapa candidates face tough questions on vaping, housing, meth and water storage during election debate. Wairarapa candidates debated vaping, housing…
- Keywords: wairarapa, vaping, housing, methamphetamine, water storage, election 2026, national, labour, green party, act, politics, news
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1865476/wairarapa-candidates-grilled-on-vaping-housing-meth-and-water-storage
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-12T15:49:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wairarapa, vaping, housing, methamphetamine, water storage, election 2026, national, labour, green party, act, politics, news
## 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
## Key takeaway

Wairarapa candidates debated vaping, housing, methamphetamine, and water storage issues ahead of the 2026 election.