The 112-person ODT Inkbox was filled to capacity for the event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Oamaru, and although more than half the crowd were silver-haired, it was a spirited night.
National Party candidate Jacqui Dean, the incumbent who has been in office since 2005, was jeered as she answered the first of five pre-distributed questions by saying it was easy to make promises as an opposition party.
As she went on to describe what she had delivered for the Waitaki electorate, people called out ''I'm sorry, Jacqui, but you don't'' and ''Delivered what?''
Mrs Dean received sound support on the second question of the night, when candidates were asked to detail the challenges facing New Zealand.
''The biggest threat facing New Zealand is a Labour-Green government,'' she said to applause.
Labour Party candidate Zelie Allan was well received when she said her focus would be healthcare and New Zealand's mental health crisis.
Former Waitaki mayor New Zealand First candidate Alex Familton and The Opportunities Party candidate Kevin Neill also received support from the crowd.
Waitaki Green Party candidate Pat Wall was out of the area and Dunedin South Green Party candidate Shane Gallagher filled in.
Democrats for Social Credit candidate Hessel Van Wieren and Conservative candidate Raymond Lum were not there.
