Election 2014: Candidates face off over breakfast

Lyall Russell, Todd McClay, Fletcher Tabuteau, Tamati Coffey and Rawiri Waititi. PHOTO STEPHEN PARKER

Candidates for the Rotorua and Waiariki electorates for this month's general election spoke at a breakfast function this morning organised by the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.

Click image to enlarge

National's Todd McClay, Labour's Tamati Coffey and Rawiri Waititi, New Zealand First's Fletcher Tabuteau and Act's Lyall Russell gave speeches and answered pre-prepared questions and questions from the audience during the two hour event in front of an audience of about 100 people at the Distinction Hotel.

Notable absentees were Waiariki candidates Te Ururoa Flavell and Annette Sykes, along with Tauranga-based Waiariki candidate Pat Spellman.

Conservative Party candidate for Rotorua Michael Davidson was also a no-show.

Candidates answered a range of questions focussing on how Rotorua could grow economically and what policies their parties had in place to boost the regional economy.
Much of the focus was on the forestry sector and how candidates would help small to medium size businesses in the region.

For a full report from the event and for Richard Prebble's thoughts about the candidates and who will win the Rotorua and Waiariki electorates see tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.