Public invited to Meet the Candidates Event

Southlanders will soon have the chance to hear directly from those standing for Environment Southland’s Invercargill-Rakiura and Hokonui constituencies.

A Meet the Candidates Evening will be held on Wednesday 10 September at the Environment Southland Council Chambers. Doors open at 5:30pm, with the discussion running from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

The event will be hosted in a panel discussion format, giving each candidate equal time to outline their perspectives, respond to questions, and speak to how they would help guide Environment Southland’s work on issues such as freshwater, the changing climate and community resilience.

The public is encouraged to attend in person and the evening will also be live-streamed on the council’s website and YouTube channel for those who cannot be there.

Environment Southland Deputy Electoral Officer Paula Burke said the evening was designed to help the community make informed decisions at election time.

“This is an opportunity for people to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for Southland’s future. It’s about understanding who is standing, what they stand for and how they will represent you around the council table.”

She said the format of the evening would encourage a balanced and engaging discussion.

“Every candidate will be given equal time to share their views and respond to questions, so the community can compare perspectives and hear a wide range of ideas. We encourage everyone to come along or tune in online and be part of the democratic process.”

The Meet the Candidates Evening is free to attend, and registration is not required.

For further information, contact the communications team on 0800 76 88 45 or communications@es.govt.nz