A large audience attended the forum where candidates outlined their election platforms before answering questions from the floor.
Dannevirke dairy farmer Phil Hartridge asked candidates about local authority amalgamation. Mr Ellis, the Tararua District mayor, said his council had discussed amalgamation and was against it.
"With our council's borrowings low at just $1 million we're in a good position financially," he said. "The commissioner has advised me we are the most difficult council to amalgamate and I ask, how the hell can we?"
Ms Hoera said both the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa councils were too big to be considered amalgamation partners. "There should be robust consultation around amalgamation, in the end it's your decision," she said.
Carole Isaacson, who is standing for both the district council and the community board, said she wasn't interested in amalgamation.
"Hopefully we can go it alone," she said.
Mr Fenemore said the Tararua would become the poor cousin.
"We should remain as we are in the short-term, with the question of amalgamation going to a referendum," he said.
Council candidates Jim Crispin, Hayden Hape and James Kendrick weren't in favour of amalgamation, while Stephen Paewai said he believed it made economic sense. Derek Batchelor said if amalgamation was forced on the district he'd like to see the Tararua turned into a unitary authority, combining with the regional council.
However, councillor Chris Southgate said an open mind was needed.
"The only district I would consider joining with is perhaps Central Hawke's Bay," he said. "But they have a lot of debt and we'd have to quarantine their debt before any amalgamation."
Councillor David Roberts said he wasn't against amalgamation, but at the moment fails to see any benefit for ratepayers.
