"You've got to spend five years in before you know what you are doing."
Mr Mark has been a mayor for four years "learning and serving" and is not afraid to "ruffle a few feathers" in order to make an impact.
"A lot of people have asked me to stand," he said.
"My offer to you, is to serve you first and foremost, put your concerns before the Government."
On the subject of what form of local government Wairarapa should take, Mr Mark said it was one of the reasons he wanted to be in Parliament. "I want a unitary authority for Wairarapa.
"We're quite capable of governing ourselves, as we have done for 150 years."
He described the concept of joining Wellington as an undermining of democracy.
"One councillor, begging and plotting - if you think you're going to get democracy out of that ... "
John Hart, Green Party
John Hart said he made a vow when he saw the face of his newborn daughter - to protect her and protect the world she would grow up in.
"That's why I'm standing.
"Rural New Zealand is a wonderful place to raise a family, seven years ago we moved here to do just that.
"The rivers, the lakes, need our protection.
"National have our rivers and our kids at serious risk - 60 per cent of our rivers are not safe to swim in."
He said there was something wrong with New Zealand when that happened.
"I want to make a difference to Wairarapa, we are ready to step up and deliver."
He said he was seeking the party vote, "not specifically" the electorate vote.
On local government reform, Mr Hart said he favoured a Wairarapa unitary authority, combining Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa.
"But the further we can keep central government politicians away from this process, the better we will all be."
Brent Reid, Conservative Party
Brent Reid demonstrated what he thought of the climate change question by screwing up a piece of paper and throwing it across the stage.
"We don't believe in anthropogenic global warming," he said.
"Throw out carbon taxes - get rid of it.
"You can't change the weather by taxing people."
He said New Zealand was too small in the world, "a pimple on the backside of the world," to have any influence.
"Our farmers are burdened with an Emission Trading Scheme which does nothing.
"Interpretations of the weather are just that - interpretations.
"To make economic policy on a false prediction is just ludicrous."
On what he could offer Wairarapa, Mr Reid said the Marriage Amendment Act was "the last straw" and he wanted to halt the liberal agenda of the left.
He wanted to "return democracy back to the people" with binding referendums to curb what he described as MPs' power trips.
"I get frustrated by the arrogance of MPs [putting laws in place].
"I love this community, my kids go to local schools."
He said he would fight to keep the hospital, push for hill road upgrades and not legalise drugs.
The unitary authority sounded good to him, but he was concerned people would pay more rates.
"I favour the status quo but I would wait for the Local Government Commission's [findings]."
Alastair Scott, National Party
Alastair Scott pushed the message of pragmatism and experience in his presentation and made no bones about being a commercial man.
"I'm not born here, some people think that's really important. I don't.
"What is important is what I have committed to this electorate.
"I came back here, invested in a dry bit of land known as Matahiwi."
He said what Wairarapa needed was more of that kind of investment - and access to water.
"If you want to have everything status quo, you can support the left.
"Have carbon tax, stop irrigation projects - my water will dry up.
"So you see, I'm a very pragmatic guy.
"I'm seeking your electorate vote. It's important to have someone experienced."
On the matter of local government reform, Mr Scott said he was sitting on the fence.
"It's a local issue, each district has its own unique issues.
"I want to make sure I'm fully informed."
Kieran McAnulty, Labour Party
Kieran McAnulty said Wairarapa needed an MP connected to the electorate.
He was that man, he declared.
"I grew up here, I live here, my family has been here for five generations.
"I know the issues you face.
"People want an MP committed to them, who understands, who promotes Wairarapa at every opportunity," he said.
Mr McAnulty said he had targeted his tertiary education towards a candidacy bid in Wairarapa, including a post-graduate diploma in political science, then a masters degree in politics.
He said talk of the growing economy was "disingenuous" because that did not relate to Wairarapa.
"The government approach is not working for us.
"We need to offer more than simply 'Vote for me because I'm team Key'.
"I want to win the old-fashioned way.
"That means knocking on doors and listening to people."
On climate change, Mr McAnulty said they had a responsibility to the country to acknowledge climate change existed.
"We rely on our primary industry but the value we can extract from primary industry is directly linked to our clean, green image.
On local government reform, Mr McAnulty said it was "regrettable" the Local Government Commission had delayed its announcement until after the election.
"My preferences would be the third option, the three Wairarapa councils combined under the two-tier model.
"But it's a moot point until we hear from the LGC.
"I have grave concerns in which the way the Government is forcing amalgamations, forcing whole regions to have their say.
"Labour will give communities back their voice."
