Tauranga is on the hunt for a new member of Parliament. Nominations closed last week in the contest to replace the retired Simon Bridges. 

This election comes at a tense time for New Zealand’s fifth-largest city. There are growing concerns around violence and racism, while a Crown Commission has taken over all governance responsibilities from the city’s council. 

So what does all this dysfunction mean for a new member of parliament? And what will it take to fix the problems?  

Today, Bay of Plenty Times journalist Kiri Gillespie joins Damien to look at the tough road ahead for local leadership in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Venuto
Producer/Editor: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy Fox
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.