Dear Rapiti, The low turn out to the Meet the Candidates events is an indication of what can only be described as a ‘mimi pohara' boring up-coming election.
More folks show up at an AA meeting than a meeting to choose who is going to look after the future of our children.
Perhaps The Weekend Sun can run a sweepstake. Whoever guesses the most correct candidates gets a year's free subscription and a free feed of Bobby Palmer's fish n chips.
It's a sad indictment on society when a catchy billboard can get you re-elected onto city council and an ex-crooning news reading voice gets you back on regional council. Both of these councilors are about as effective as a concrete keel on an America's Cup yacht.
The only spark of excitement is the fresh faces standing for the Maori seats, on both local and regional council.
Maori should not fall into the trap of choosing a candidate because he has a prominent history but has never stepped foot on many of the Marae here in Tauranga Moana.
How can he or she possibly know what our needs are?
Vote for your whanau sure, but only if they have been walking the talk for tangata whenua of Tauranga Moana and the wider Bay of Plenty region at a flax roots Marae level.
If you haven't seen them in the last three years then don't vote for them. Same goes for all candidates with or without flash billboards and fame from 40 years ago.

Tommy ‘Kapai' Wilson, Te Puna.