Vote 2017: Heartbeat - the hopes, fears and dreams of smalltown New Zealand

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.

Monday

• Heartbeat: Crime a concern as Huntly evolves

Tuesday

• Heartbeat: Flood-hit Edgecumbe battles on

Wednesday

• Heartbeat: Ashburton sheds its old skin

Thursday

• Heartbeat: Plenty of heart, not enough hope in Rawene

Friday

• Heartbeat: Housing boom reaches Taihape