As for water, he said central government needed to wake up to what was happening around the country, this issue thrown into sharp relief by the Havelock North water crisis, which was something of a test case for the Government to consider.
"Housing affordability just doesn't match up with wages," said Greg Morgan in Hastings.
"At the moment wages are rubbish and house prices are too high. It's different in Auckland where there are opportunities to earn more but there's not those options here."
For Bruce Cotter of Hastings, the lack of affordable housing, and at times resultant homelessness, was a symptom of the changing times and people not looking after each other.
"We used to look after each other - today they live in the street but what else can they do? Something is really amiss when those with money at the top don't look after those who have less."
Another change from the era that he grew up in was the lack of responsibility when things went wrong, such as the Havelock North gastro outbreak, he said.
"I hold Mr Yule responsible for that - in my day if something like this happened the guy at the top would stand down."
In terms of his vote, he was watching with interest how new Labour leader Jacinda Ardern would perform and didn't rule out an upset such as had been seen in the United States, Canada and France.
Vicky Kyle in Hastings questioned why people were allowed to live in state houses for long periods, when they should be a stopgap.
The solution according to Hastings' Ross Taylor was to bring more jobs to the area for skilled professionals.
"We need incentives to get them here."
Hastings retailers have seen the increase in begging and homelessness, and Elise Tasker who had a shop on the main street said this had occurred in recent years.
She linked the issue in part to drugs, especially methamphetamine.
"We need more education about drugs, especially P, which is devastating families."
This was echoed by Bronek Hasler who said there was a lack of impetus by the current government to get people into rehabilitation.
"There's a lot of families who want to get their child, grandchild, niece, daughter, partner into rehab but the Government does not promote or invest in it enough.
"Where does the money go? $26 million to debate a new flag - that could have gone towards dealing with this problem."
He was also watching Ms Ardern with interest. His view was that the National Government only did well for those in upper income brackets.
For retired farmer Kevin Mawson, however, who now has a small food business in Hastings, the National Government was doing a good job.
"This is a farming area and they are looking after the farmers."
He was not completely confident National would be a shoo-in this year, but believed the Labour party had done themselves no favours in the Tukituki electorate with their recently announced policy to tax commercial water users.
"When I was farming there was always a cost for water and if she puts another tax on it will kill farming, and we need food."
In Hastings, Carl Barrett pinpointed an area where he thought National was failing and that was for people working in the trades.
"National is not doing anything for us - there's no support for young people coming through such as apprenticeships, they're a thing of the past, the Government needs to do more for tradies."
For some people the elections were not important because they did not think politicians were effective.
"I do not have much belief in politicians - they promise things but do not go through with them," said Sharlene Riach in Hastings.
Her concerns centred around the lack of opportunities for young people in the electorate.
"There's not enough for young people - they come into town and just loiter, they're not causing any trouble, but I wish the kids had somewhere to go."
Troy Hapuku was one such young person milling around in the centre of Hastings this week, and he agreed not enough was being done for the youth.
"We need to bring more youth events and courses here, and have people running them who understand our issues."
He was enrolled to vote and said he would be picking Labour or the Maori party.
Getting young people interested in voting was another challenge highlighted by some.
Kate Barker had always been a Labour voter, and believed the current Government did not understand youth issues, and there needed to be a focus on getting young people to vote.
In Otane, Morgan Dysart, aged in her 20s, intended to vote, but at this point had no understanding of what her local candidates stood for or how the political process worked.
"I've seen their boards around but I don't know them or understand what they do.
"I know my vote is important and it would be good to see more education at schools on politics, taxes and how the government works."
Otane, Tikokino and Ongaonga are on the fringes of the Tukituki electorate, and Ongaonga resident Danny Young felt these areas of Central Hawke's Bay were neglected by politicians.
"We have such a small population base. I think the whole of CHB should be in Tukituki electorate and that way we would have a bit of a voice."
He had not yet decided who he would vote for but would be looking for a party committed to a strategy of growth and productivity in the regions and not just focused on the main centres.
