Law and order had been a common issue during his term and one raised at his street meetings.
"We need to get the level of police resource in ... Napier to actually meet the expectations communities have," he said, citing Hawke's Bay's burglaries, the highest increase recorded nationally between 2015 and 2016.
Getting residents into jobs was a key focus, particularly as Hawke's Bay's had one of the highest percentage of 18-24 year-olds not in education, employment, or training.
"We have so many RESE workers [coming] here and so many unemployed people here, it just doesn't make sense to me. Napier's going really well at the moment ... but for a number of people this isn't the art deco oasis on the sea that you see in the marketing brochures."
If re-elected, Mr Nash, Labour's new Economic Development spokesperson, said he would work hard to address the regional economic development strategy.
"Economic development is really the key to growing our region and providing opportunities for those who are here, for those to come back to the Bay, [and] for our young ones who will be looking to find employment."
Building resilience in the economy was needed as the region was too reliant on variables over which there was no control: weather, commodity prices, exchange rates.
"You build resilience by diversifying the economy and, certainly, as Labours economic development spokesperson I'm working on ... a number of strategies to achieve this."
Looking further afield, Wairoa had several issues that needed addressing, he said, from "law and order, all the way through to the hollowing out of key services".
Wider Hawke's Bay issues, such as GM-Free and water bottling, would also be a focus.
"They might not be directly going on in the electorate of Napier but they're still really important to our regional brand as well as our local brand.
National party candidate Mr Elliott, who was selected last week, said he was ready to tackle the "diverse" issues facing the electorate,from access in northern Hawke's Bay, to protecting fisheries.
While there was a "great vibe" in Napier, Mr Elliott said it was important to keep issues around employment, and crime, under control while tackling new issues.
"The secret to anything is opportunity, jobs and growth because they reduce unemployment, reduce crime, and bring people out of poverty," he said.
Part of this was also around social investment. Mr Elliott said coming from a lower socio-economic background underlined how important it was break inter-generational cycles of poverty and drug use.
"I think its really important that you can find those people and move them into the light and give them the best shot."
Drugs and their effect on the community was also an issue. Mr Elliot said he had a good relationship with the police and was keen to discuss those issues with them.
Attracting more people to Napier and maintaining high tourism levels would also be a focus some of which could be achieved by improving connections between the city and the rest of the country.
"I'd say there's never been a better time to attract businesses down to Napier. We're seeing a little bit of that already," he said. "It's about keeping that positivity and telling people to come on down. For business owners and people in Napier that can only be a good thing."
Mr Elliot said he also felt strongly about protecting the region's fisheries.
The third candidate, Mr Rusden, said he would campaign with the Green Party charter in mind: "ecological wisdom, social responsibility, appropriate decision-making and non-violence".
"I have been in contact with local unions and iwi and will be reaching out to
councils and the community in Wairoa and Gisborne so that I am able to deal with issues from every corner of my constituency," he said.
The 22-year-old said the focus of his campaign would be "the health of our awa, our rivers".
He made reference to the standard of Hawke's Bay rivers, outraged that the government had "shifted the definition of 'clean' so that one in every twenty children swimming in that same river will get sick".
"Quite simply, I refuse to play roulette with the health of my two young sisters, and the wellbeing of everyone in Hawke's Bay and Aotearoa," he said.
He supported the Regional Council's stance on a prohibition of oil and gas exploration in Hawke's Bay.
"We cannot continue to have an economy based on the infinite growth of finite resources. It is unsustainable and unnecessary when Hawkes Bay has a lot more value to offer."
More localised issues were also a focus, such as the Pan Pac Whirinaki Kiln, and perceived lack of support for the Napier City Council proposed multi-use sports facility.
An advocate for the value of labour to be priced fairly, Mr Rusden said he would campaign on equity in the workplace.
Only three candidates have been confirmed for the Napier electorate.
The 2014 Democrats for the Social Credit candidate Barry Pulford said he had not been confirmed for this election but he had put his hand up.
One of his priorities was encouraging the opening of the rail line from Napier to Gisborne for both freight, and passenger services.
He supported the cleaning up of Napier's waterways and opposed any compulsory fluoridation of the water supply.
New Zealand First Party President Brent Catchpole said a candidate would stand in Napier after selections in late April or early May.
Candidates were yet to be confirmed for the Conservatives, Mana, the Opportunities Party, and ACT but the nominations process for all was in progress.
The Maori Party, United Future party, Internet party, Ban1080 Party, and the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party had not responded by the time of publication.