Newspaper coverage of Ōpunake candidate hui

Coverage in the Taranaki Daily News on the Meet the Candidates hui in Ōpunake the other night:
Ōpunake lively debate at candidates’ meeting
There was no chance of dozing off on the sofas of Everybody’s Theatre when 14 candidates fronted up to voters at Ōpunake on Wednesday evening.
Despite the wild, windy night, 52 people turned out to hear from candidates for the Taranaki Coastal seats on the South Taranaki District Council, the community board and the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC).
“Our biggest mandate is to make sure people don’t fall asleep in those comfy chairs,” Urs Signer, who is standing for the TRC, said. “We need some robust debate.”
That came further into the meeting, when candidates were asked who supported Māori wards. All hands on stage were raised.
Then New Plymouth District councillor Dinnie Moeahu challenged Walker, saying that he did not support Māori wards.
The accusation was in reference to an issue at a Taranaki Regional Council meeting in December, when Walker was one of the councillors who colluded to stop a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill and halt debate on the matter.
In explanation on Wednesday, Walker said he was trying to “ride trouble with a slack rein”.
“I believed partly that the TRC is supposed to be dealing with other matters,” he said.
Signer said the issue contributed to his bid for election. “I decided I would stand as one small voice to honour the Treaty of Waitangi. That’s why I’m running.”
Full article by Catherine Groenestein: ​https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360819324/lively-debate-candidates-meeting-opunake