The National Party's promise to put prisoners into work has been slammed at a local political candidates forum.
About a dozen people turned out to the Community Rotorua Waiariki and Rotorua Election Candidates Forum, held at QE Health yesterday.
Labour Party Rotorua candidate Tamati Coffey and Mana Movement's Waiariki candidate Annette Sykes were the only candidates to take part in the event, which was led by Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. The other seven candidates in the Rotorua and Waiariki electorates were unable to attend.
One of the many topics discussed was the New Zealand prison system, following the announcement earlier this week that the National Party would see prisoners work 40 hours a week if it's returned to government.
Ms Sykes said she thought the policy was "stupid" and would provide an incentive for those people who were unemployed to commit crimes so they could get a job, be it in prison.