Tauranga's Candidates Debate will be live online this evening, Tuesday May 24, with the big issues facing Tauranga being addressed before a live audience.

Make sure you bookmark the livestream link (https://www.sunlive.co.nz/election-debate.html) and check back this evening when we go live.

Four of the twelve candidates will be live in SunLive's studio, while the other eight candidates will be provided with the same questions and their positions compiled by our newsroom for the SunLive website.

What are the big issues facing Tauranga and what do the candidates think about them?

Topics from traffic congestions, cost of living, community safety, local democracy, sustainability, inner city living and more will be put to them in the livestreamed debate which will take the form of a panel discussion.

National's Sam Uffindell, Labour's Jan Tinetti, New Nation's Andrew Hollis and ACT's Cameron Luxton will be facing the tough questions the city is wanting answers to, live at Sun Media.

All the candidates will have the opportunity to share their stance on the topics. The other eight candidates are Allan Cawood from ONE Party, Christopher Coker from Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Tony Corbett, Gordon Dickson, Yvette Lamare, Peter Wakeman, Sue Grey from NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party, and Helen Houghton from New Conservative.

'Sun Media supports the debate in the interests of freedom of speech and democracy,” says directors Brian and Claire Rogers.

'Our aim is to keep voters well informed, while helping to ensure fair and efficient government.”

Former independent MP and Tauranga resident Brendan Horan will be the MC for the night.

The debate will be hosted at Sun Media offices at No.1 The Strand and live streamed on SunLive from 7.30pm on Tuesday May 24.

All questions from the debate will be sent to all other candidates for the election during the event, to allow them the chance to answer on all the issues presented on the night. All candidates' answers will be available on SunLive following the event.