The forum was organised by Grey Power Central Otago and featured Waitaki candidates Zelie Allan (Labour), Jacqui Dean (National, and incumbent MP), Alexander Familton (New Zealand First), Hessel van Wieran (Democrats for Social Credit) and Green Party representative Sampsa Kiuru, representing Green Party Waitaki candidate Pat Wall, who was unable to attend the forum.
Several candidates referred to the Maniototo Hospital rebuild during their five-minute speeches, and questions from members of the public about the issue followed.
Mr Familton said private-public partnerships in healthcare were ''a disaster'', and he criticised the Government's lack of support for the Maniototo community.
''Why should a country hospital, just because it's in the country, have to find its own funding?''
Alexandra resident Gerry Eckhoff asked Mrs Dean if she ''could name one hospital in urban New Zealand that rated its own population to fund'' its own rebuild.
Mrs Dean said she had lobbied her colleagues hard seeking a government contribution to the rebuild. She said the request for funding had been too late to fit within budget timeframes, but she had ''not given up'' and would keep trying to get some assistance.
Maniototo Health Services Ltd has raised $4.7 million towards the $5.4 million project, from a combination of hospital reserve funds, community fundraising and a Central Otago District Council contribution that will be repaid by Maniototo ratepayers.
Other issues discussed at the forum included Labour's proposed new water royalty, the Dunedin Hospital rebuild and living wages.
