Audrey Young: Leaders put under the spotlight

Mana Party leader and MP Hone Harawira, left, and Laila Harre, leader of the Internet Party. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Sometimes seeing is believing. Sometimes it helps to see your politicians in action in order to judge whether they can be trusted and whether they are capable of defending their policies.

The Herald begins a series where voters get to do that. Over eight days, www.nzherald.co.nz will bring you an in-depth interview with different political leaders seeking your support this election.

We'll have a highlights video package and the full-length interview with an index to the subjects discussed.

The Herald is running highlights as well, starting with the first joint interview, with the Internet-Mana leadership team, Hone Harawira and Laila Harre.

Today we have Colin Craig of the Conservatives, Act's Jamie Whyte on Saturday, Peter Dunne of United Future on Monday, the Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell on Tuesday, Green co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei on Wednesday, Labour leader David Cunliffe on Thursday and Prime Minister John Key on Friday.

The series was filmed on location at the Herald studio in Auckland. The panel for all the interviews was accomplished NewstalkZB host Rachel Smalley, Herald columnists Toby Manhire and Fran O'Sullivan and me, the Herald's political editor. The leaders were given the time to explain their views on a wide range of issues in a respectful environment but not without being challenged.

We also initially hoped to bring you nine interviews but New Zealand First leader Winston Peters withdrew the day before, saying the Herald had underestimated the numbers at his campaign launch. He confirmed that decision the day of his interview, citing John Armstrong's stinging commentary on his "two Wongs" joke.