A crowd of about 160 filled the Dunedin Public Art Gallery auditorium to overflowing, curious to hear all 16 candidates who were hoping to become one of the city's two MPs come November 26.
Organisers put out extra seats but still some people had to stand at the sides of the room and even outside the door.
Hosted jointly by community newspaper The Star and the Otago Chamber of Commerce, the meeting is the only one in the city featuring candidates for both the Dunedin North and Dunedin South electorates, with eight candidates in each.
Over two and a-half hours, the candidates introduced themselves and outlined their personal and party policies on issues such the economy, the welfare system and caring for the environment.
Despite their political differences, almost all the candidates expounded a common theme - more jobs, higher wages, warmer houses and a better future for coming generations.
The lively audience listened politely and added enthusiastic claps, cheers, "hear hears" and the occasional boo, whistle and interjection.
Julian Crawford, Dunedin North candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, drew laughs for his earnest and unwavering view New Zealand's economy should be boosted by manufacturing biofuels and other products from hemp crops, while Robert Wansink, Dunedin South candidate for the Restore All Things in Christ party, seemed unfazed when his ultra-conservative religious views were met by groans and rolled eyes.
But it was seasoned Alliance Party candidate Victor Billot - he described himself as "persistent and consistent" - who was the most entertaining speaker, eloquently chiding and tearing down his political opponents while raising laughs from both candidates and audience at the same time.
"I keep telling Victor to join the Labour Party," Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran declared at one point, to the delight of the audience and a sheepish smile from Mr Billot.
