It was a lively gathering in Wanganui's Majestic Square that listened to candidates' views on drugs, gambling and suicide in a forum put on by Maori organisation Nga Tai o te Awa.
Master of ceremonies Jay Rerekura said the forum was held at the request of kaumatua (elders), who wanted those issues on candidates' radar.
There was a wide spectrum of views across the candidates, from Whanganui MP Chester Borrows' defence of the Sky City convention centre deal to others condemning it. But there was agreement as well, with Green Party Te Tai Hauauru candidate Jack McDonald supporting the Maori Party's Whanau Ora policy.
Whanganui Labour candidate Hamish McDouall began by emphasising child poverty.
"There are 260,000 children growing up in poverty, and 100,000 of them growing up in working families. That isn't good enough. New Zealand is a better place than that."