Quick draw: Waiheke High head girl Huia Pocklington and Year 13 student Ella Reilly ensure fairness over publication of candidate responses to the questionnaire.

Local election registrations for all candidates closed on Friday last week, resulting in 17 confirmed contenders for five places on the Waiheke Local Board.

Gulf News has already set them ‘homework’ – a list of 14 questions has been sent to each candidate covering topics such as previous experience, strengths, weaknesses, political affiliations, goal-setting abilities, and longterm vision for the island.

They have also been asked what they see as the single biggest issue facing Waiheke and to comment on any other key issues or ideas, such as the UNESCO biosphere.

Separate answers from three candidates at a time will be published starting next week in editions leading up to the election.

Waiheke High School head girl Huia Pocklington and Year 13 student Emma Reilly drew names out of  hat on Monday to ensure fairness over the publication dates.

And they set two extra ‘homework’ questions of their own while they were at it. Miss Pocklington said she was keen to know how candidates would try to make things easier for students – such as cheaper transport to Auckland University, student discounts, and access to books – while Miss Reilly wanted to know whether the candidates believed more young people should have a voice in the Super City.

“After all, we’re the ones who are going to be growing up with the new council and living here in 10 to 20 years’ time.”

Candidates will be giving answers in their published responses but, meanwhile, most expect to be campaigning hard.

“That’s why it’s called ‘running for office’,” said ex-councillor and local board candidate Faye Storer. •