Four Wairarapa candidates fighting for votes this election

Four Wairarapa candidates, from left, Kieran McAnulty (Labour), Alastair Scott (National), Ron Mark (NZ First), and John Hart (Green). Photo / File

A lot of door knocks, walking and talking, then rest and repeat - these are the final days of the election campaign for the Wairarapa candidates.

Green Party candidate John Hart, standing for the second time in Wairarapa, said the past week had been busy as usual, and felt this year the public mood had grown.

"What really struck me was the number of people at candidate events. The numbers were much, much bigger than in 2014. Venues that at the last election that were sparsely populated were absolutely chocka," he said.

"It's been a pretty solid week. We've had so much going on the last seven days. Compared to this time last campaign, it feels like there's more on, a lot more events and meetings booked in," he said.

Current Wairarapa list MP Ron Mark, of NZ First, said this week was "a lot of driving, a lot of talking, a lot of walking".

"Manic, hectic," he said. "A lot of factory visits . . . meeting with people, staff and workers, door knocking, meeting business owners in the CBD. Much the same over the next few days."

As deputy leader of the possible kingmaker party, Mr Mark said his standing in Parliament could deliver real benefits to the region.

"If they're tired of having 18 years of back-bench representation and getting nothing for the Wairarapa, then why go for 21 years?" he said.

"I'm on the front bench, I've got a reputation and some credibility in the House and I know I can get things done. Give me a shot for three years. If I suck at the job, fire me. But just give me that shot, and I won't let you down."

Labour's Kieran McAnulty, also standing in his second election in Wairarapa, said this year was "worlds apart" from the 2014 election, and he's hoping this will result in a change in fortunes.

"The response is incredible, actually. I've got the benefit of being able to compare to the last electorate when I stood, and they're worlds apart. The surge in support of Labour is the obvious one, however there's also a real mood for change here locally," he said.

He said campaigning had been good and energetic, and he'd been laying out the case for him as the only candidate who could beat incumbent electorate MP Alastair Scott.

"When we have a conversation about the electoral vote, we make the point that there is actually only one, mathematically and statistically, person who can beat Alistair Scott, and that's myself. That's quite a compelling argument."

Mr Scott said he and his National Party team drove from Waipukurau to Carterton yesterday, visiting all the towns in between, before heading to Martinborough and Featherston in the early evening.

He said they would take signs down throughout the electorate today and tomorrow and chat to people as they made their way through towns.

Mr Scott said he was confident of the result going his way.

"I can't take anything for granted . . . it would not be a good result if I lost. I'm expecting to win. The competition's done a good job . . . it could be quite close too between second and third," he said.

"It might be closer than last time, but it won't be close."

"Tomorrow I'll start helping my team pull down the signs . . . We've got to have them down by Friday so we're going to do a bit of a roadtrip again . . . and chat to some people on the way."

Act Party candidate Roger Greenslade did not respond to a request for comment.