The Otago Daily Times on Friday staged the first of what are planned to be a series of electorate debates for candidates contesting the southern seats.

Dunedin was the first electorate off the rank, as candidates Kristine Asuncion (National), David Bainbridge-Zafar (Opportunity), Rachel Brooking (Labour), Francisco Hernandez (Greens) and Kym McDonald-King (New Zealand First) tackled the big issues in a debate moderated by ODT political editor Mike Houlahan.

Dunedin electorate candidates (from left) Kristine Asuncion (National), David Bainbridge-Zafar (Opportunity), Rachel Brooking (Labour), Francisco Hernandez (Green) and Kym McDonald-King (New Zealand First) listen as Otago Daily Times political editor Mike Houlahan sets out the rules for the ODT election debate. Photo: Linda Robertson

The criteria for taking part in the debate was that a candidate was representing either a party already in Parliament, or standing for one which had a realistic chance on current polling of making it in to Parliament after the November 7 election.

Act New Zealand has not as yet selected a candidate for Dunedin.

Candidates were asked to address three local issues: the direction and future of the new Dunedin hospital project; funding for the tertiary education sector - both for the University of Otago and for Otago Polytechnic, as well for student support; and homelessness, specifically, what to do about the homeless camp at the Oval.

The debate, which lasted about 40 minutes, was filmed in the Allied Media studios in Stuart St.