Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea is holding three question-and-answer “Zui” next week to help whānau decide who to vote for in the upcoming trustee elections.

Twenty-eight candidates are standing for election, and voting opens tomorrow for all eligible voters in the Whakatōhea tribal database.

Candidates for the hapū and general election will be introduced during three live Q&A sessions on Facebook.

On Tuesday, October 20 at 7pm, whānau can hear from the nine general trustee candidates about why they are standing and what they will bring to the trust if elected.

Kahukore Baker, Janell Dymus-Kurei (rangatahi seat), Te Ringahuia Hata, Parehuia Mafi (nee Karanga-Mareroa), Nadine Gray, Karen Mokomoko, Tanisha Jones, Marsh Moore and Marcelle Pio (rangatahi seat) are vying for four general seats, including one rangatahi seat (aged between 18 and 35 years). All Whakatōhea have the opportunity to vote these candidates.

On Wednesday, October 21 at 7pm, the candidates for the Ngāti Ruatākenga seats will have their say.

Mereaira Hata, Damian Papuni and Linda Aroha Papuni-Grave are seeking election for two hapū seats.

Ngāti Ira and Upokorehe candidates will introduce themselves on Thursday, October 22 at 7pm.

Robyn Hata-Gage, Renay Jones, Amber Rakuraku-Rosieur and Wiki Upward-Ngaika are seeking to represent Ngāti Ira and Maude Edwards, Victor Hape, Miranda Horan and Ngaire Ngamoki are vying for election on behalf of Te Ūpokorehe.

Two trustees will be elected for each of the six hapū to represent the hapū on Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea, with only whānau who have registered that hapū as their primary affiliation eligible to vote for its candidate.

With only two candidates for Ngāi Tamahaua, Adrian Orr and Courtney Papuni, they will represent the hapū.

Ngāti Ngahere has put forward Hiria Hape and Te Kahautu Maxwell as its two trustees and Ngāti Patumoana have put forward Te Puritanga Jefferies and Bradley Walker.

Voting closes on November 13 with provisional results released on November 18 and confirmed on December 3.

The new trustees will be sworn

in at the annual meeting on December 5.