Whanganui rangatahi will be able to ask their local electoral candidates today about their party's policies about alcohol, drugs gambling and suicide prevention.
The Maori development organisation Nga Tai o Te Awa and the Community Action Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) have organised a forum where rangatahi can question the Whanganui and Te Tai Hauauru electoral candidates.
A CAYAD co-ordinator at Nga Tai o Te Awa, Jay Rerekura, said although it was a youth event, the call to make it happen came from Whanganui kaumatua.
He said it was also a way of encouraging 18- and 19-year-olds to get out and vote.
Mr Rerekura said the elders challenged Nga Tai o Te Awa to engage young people in issues pertaining to alcohol, drugs, gambling and suicide prevention.
The Whanganui man said his organisation was also trying to encourage young adults who have just become eligible to vote to practise their democratic right to participate in the election process.
Mr Rerekura said the forum would be held on Whanganui's main street of Victoria Avenue at Majestic Square this afternoon.
He said there would be two sessions, one for the Whanganui electoral candidates and another for the Tai Hauauru candidates.
