National is urging its Kapiti Coast supporters to turn out for an upcoming debate, saying Labour backers have been stacking public election meetings.
By Justin Wong for Local Democracy Reporting
In an email sent on Monday night, National MP Tim Costley asked supporters to attend the Grey Power‑hosted Kapiti electorate debate at Waikanae Baptist Church on Tuesday evening, and be ready to put questions to candidates when the floor opens.
Costley also circulated a pre‑written list of suggested questions for attendees to use.
The suggested questions ranged from asking Costley how he would “get us faster access to local health care”, to directing Labour candidate Sophie Handford to explain her positions on housing and rates capping.
Attendees were also encouraged to ask both candidates whether they supported “cracking down on gangs”.
“Labour has been turning up with 30 members each meeting and getting all the questions,” the email read.
“So we want you to support (loudly!) and ask questions.”
Costley told Local Democracy Reporting the message wasn’t a reaction to a single incident, but to behaviour he says has occurred across multiple debates, where Labour supporters in party‑branded clothing interrupted Government speakers and “try to get all the questions”.
He felt a recent chamber of commerce debate barely touched on business issues and he felt “really bad” for the organisers.
“This is just a consistent theme we’ve had, where people try to railroad the debate,” Costley said.
“They’re not particularly subtle in the way they conduct themselves.”
Handford said Labour didn’t organise or script questions from the audience, but Costley appeared to be doing it himself.
“Healthy, robust debate is an important part of our democracy, and candidates should expect to face tough questions from the communities they’re seeking to represent,” she said.
Local Democracy Reporting has seen a complaint about audience behaviour at a Grey Power meeting in Paraparaumu last week, saying heckling during some candidates’ responses was “very disrespectful” and “lowered the tone of the meeting”.
Born out of recent boundary changes, the Kapiti electorate was formed from the dismantled Ōtaki electorate – losing Horowhenua but gaining the northern suburbs of Porirua.
Other candidates include NZ First’s Penny Gaylor, the Greens’ Melody Willis, Chee-Khiang Sng of Opportunity, Richard Goode of NAP (Not a Party) and the Progressive Party’s Michael Walker.
Recent polling showed Costley and Handford neck-and-neck.
– Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air