A candidate forum, organised by the University of Otago Students’ Association and the University of Otago Debating Society and with an audience of about 50 people, covered topics of housing, sanctions against Israel and the possible return of a student bar.
In a quick-fire round, MC and pro-vice-chancellor humanities Prof Hugh Campbell asked what candidates would wear to the annual Hyde St Party if elected as mayor.
Green Party candidate Mickey Treadwell, who said he would don a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, said the council’s decision last month not to approve parking changes for the walking and cycling connection in Albany St was a "wasted opportunity".
"I fear in some ways we’re letting perfect be the enemy of good here," he said.
"There were a lot of people who had small quibbles with the design of it, possibly not realising that by delaying it, we’re almost certainly not going to actually be able to afford it now or we’re going to double the cost."
Marie Laufiso, running on the Building Kotahitaka ticket and saying her Hyde St costume would be of Samoan war goddess Nafanua, said the council needed to be doing more to advocate for students living in poor-quality flats.
"Authorities like councils have a role to play in ensuring that somehow ... those slum landlords don’t get to rent out properties."
Carmen Houlahan said stakeholders, such as the university, council and property owners, needed to build strong relationships, rather than "say all landlords are enemies".
She said she thought the Hyde St Party was a lot of fun and she would wear the mayoral robes.
"And perhaps a Santa hat."
Future Dunedin candidate Andrew Simms, who said he would hit Hyde St in his Bayfield High School uniform, said he supported the council inspecting student flats as it did commercial properties.
"Student flats are set up by people as a commercial entity to make money from students renting them," he said.
"There’s absolutely no reason why that cannot come into the system that already exists."
Sophie Barker said she would be the Robin to Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich’s Batman (she resigned as his deputy in 2023).
Pamela Taylor, who would wear a tiara to Hyde St, was heckled several times during the meeting.
While speaking about students bars, she incorrectly named the university student who died at a student party in 2019 as "Sophie Charter".
"Her name was Sophia Crestani, get it right", someone in the audience yelled.
"Thank you for informing me correctly," Ms Taylor replied.
Mandy Mayhem drew inspiration for her Hyde St costume from recent public feedback.
"I heard someone heckling in the crowd to ‘grow some balls’ the other day," Cr Mayhem said.
"If I was the mayor, I would come to the Hyde Street Party dressed as a giant uterus."
Former investment banker Benedict Ong said he would dress as a banker — "quite scary, I know".
Zenith Rose-Wills, running as 201-year-old vampire Ruthven Allimrac, and Silly Hat Party leader Flynn Nisvett would both opt to attend the street party as "a normal person".
■ Mayoral candidates Lee Vandervis, Lync Aronson, Doug Hall, Lianna MacFarlane and David Milne were not present.
