The Tauranga electorate has the highest number of political candidates across the country this election – but the majority couldn't tell SunLive what the city's English translation is.

Electoral Commission figures list Tauranga, along with Epsom, as the two electorates with the most candidates, both with 11.

Tauranga's 11 political candidates for the 2014 general election.

The lowest number of candidates is Hauraki-Waikato with three.

So for something different less than three weeks out from Election Day, SunLive played a little game with the candidates to get to know them a bit better.

And see how well they know the city they wish to represent…

We called each candidate and shot five quick-fire questions at them, which they had to answer on the spot.

PS: When asked what the English translation of Tauranga is – just three gave us the correct answer: ‘Safe Harbour' or 'Place of Anchorage'.

Here's what we learned:

Questions:

1. What does ‘Tauranga' translate to in English?
2. Where is the best place to get coffee?
3. Where would you take your children to play?
4. If you had three words to describe yourself, what would they be?
5. In one sentence, what's the number one issue facing Tauranga this election?

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges

1. Safe Harbour.
2. At the moment it would be Love Rosies [8th Avenue].
3. Fergusson Park. Although Mount Drury is just quietly probably better but further away.
4. Fun loving guy.
5. The city's economy because everything else flows from there.

Labour candidate Rachel Jones

1. No I don't know.
2. Grindz Café on First Avenue
3. Memorial Park because I remember going there as a kid.
4. Positive, genuine, and compassionate.
5. I would say issues around work particularly low incomes and job security.

Green Party candidate Ian Mclean

1. Safe Harbour amongst other things.
2. I should be supporting my local café so we will go to The Village [17th Avenue].
3. We live close to the village and the kids often ask to go down there.
4. Affable, demanding and determined.
5. I think urban design issues are the key issue facing Tauranga.

NZ First candidate Clayton Mitchell

1. The city I love!
2. If I'm in the Mount I like to got to Tay Street or Café 88. If I'm in Tauranga it's generally Bravo.
3. If I'm at the Mount I go to Mount Drury Park. If I'm in Tauranga the waterfront park and if I‘m out towards Greerton we go to the trains at Memorial Park.
4. Fun, loyal, and energetic.
5. I would say the issue facing our city is creating economic opportunity and development.

NZ Independent Coalition candidate Michael O'Neill

1. Moana is to arrive.
2. Grindz Café on First Avenue.
3. To the beaches.
4. Community minded.
5. I think employment and a fair wage in particular for our 20-30-year-olds.

ACT candidate Stuart Pedersen

1. I don't know.
2. I would say Central Café.
3. Mount Primary.
4. Content, enthusiastic, and a sailor.
5. Make sure we don't have central government stuffing up a strong Tauranga economy and great lifestyle.

Independent candidate Rusty Kane

1. I don't know that one.
2. New World in Brookfield.
3. When my kids were younger I took them to Pilot Bay.
4. Honest, loyal, and caring.
5. The number one issue for Tauranga is housing affordability.

Maori Party candidate Verna Ohia-Gate

1. There is a story behind that and it's about Tauranga being an anchorage.
2. McCafe at Faulkners Corner [Gate Pa].
3. I used to take my kids to the beach.
4. Honest, respectful, and dynamic.
5. The number one issue is getting the minimum wage up to $18.50.

United Future candidate James Maxwell, Independent candidate Yvette Lamare and Conservative Party candidate Nathaniel Heslop were unable to be reached for comment.

To view SunLive's poll asking which Tauranga candidate people would vote for, click here.

A total of 554 candidates – electorate and list – are standing in this year's election. This compares with 544 candidates in the 2011 election.

Of the 544 there are 390 men and 164 women. In 2011 there were 397 men and 147 women standing.

The 2014 Election Day is on September 20. Early voting opened this week. For early voting places and times across the region, click here.