The Dunedin Youth Council hosted about 50 pupils at the Harbour View Lounge at the Edgar Centre for Speed Date the Mayor.
And in the panel section of the afternoon, candidates were asked a "serious" question and then one that was "a bit more fun".
"If you won the lottery, what would you spend your millions on?"
While candidates were still asked to describe the Dunedin of the future - and their plan to get the city there - they also faced questions, including who they drew inspiration from, what they do outside of work for pleasure, or what their favourite song was.
Youth council member and moderator Sasha Freeman (16) said the second questions were a way to understand the mayoral hopefuls as individuals.
"I think it makes them more relatable," she said.
"And even if they're not talking about the campaign, you can kind of get a feel for who they are, what they stand for.
"It's nice to get to know who is running your city on a more personal level."
Youth council chairwoman Melissa Bonilla Casanas (17), who organised the event with Sasha, said while many young people had a few major issues they cared deeply about, the issues that affected everyday Dunedinites could also affect youth, and potentially their vote.
Youth cared "a lot about traffic", she said.
"A lot of us do drive now and parking - with all the parking being taken away and heaps of roadworks going on around our schools and stuff - I think that's really been an infringement on our everyday lives."
Two new voters, year 13 St Hilda's Collegiate School pupils Anaia Wiparata (18) and Anahera Reynolds (18) both enrolled at the event yesterday.
While neither knew much about the candidates, the two attended to learn about those who wanted to represent them. Anaia identified "climate awareness, definitely" as a major issue for her.
The youth council invited all council and mayoral candidates to the event.
The only mayoral candidate not to attend was Cr Lee Vandervis.
