About 200 Labour supporters turned out for a meeting in Whangarei on Monday night to showcase the contenders for the party leadership.
Candidates Shane Jones, David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson were all applauded loudly for speeches outlining their reasons for standing.
The trio were affable on stage, making jokes that pleased the crowd including several about the former Northland Maori MP Dover Samuels, who was awarded a gold badge for 25 years of service to the Labour Party.
