This week we started a new election series called Heartbeat.
Herald journalists went to small towns in New Zealand to talk to voters about their hopes, fears and dreams.
Each day we visited a town beginning with one of the letters H, E, A, R and T.
Below are links to the first week's stories.
There are two more weeks to come. The series returns on Monday.
• Heartbeat: Crime a concern as Huntly evolves
• Heartbeat: Flood-hit Edgecumbe battles on
• Heartbeat: Ashburton sheds its old skin
• Heartbeat: Plenty of heart, not enough hope in Rawene
Constable Vincent Kahui joined in after much encouragement from the crowd.