The race for Te Tai Hauauru is as close as predicted with the Maori Party's Chris McKenzie holding a slim three-point lead over Labour rival Adrian Rurawhe.
A Maori TV/ Reid Research poll released on Wednesday had Mr McKenzie on 32 per cent with Mr Rurawhe on 29 per cent, the Greens' Jack McDonald on 11 per cent and the Mana Movement's Jordan Winiata on 10 per cent - impressive given that he had only been in the race for one week.
The candidates squared off in a televised debate on Maori TV's Native Affairs on Wednesday night which showed regional economic development and making the regions an attractive place to live were key issues for locals. The programme interviewed Wanganui voters in the days after the Whanganui River settlement.
The candidates were asked what role government still had with iwi following the river settlement.
Mr McKenzie said the settlement alone would not get the river clean and there needed to be ongoing collaboration. Mr Rurawhe said it was important government continued to work with iwi and hapu.