Tauranga doesn't have a mayor at the moment as you know but Anne Tolley, the commission chair in charge of running the city, has penned a letter with some priorities for the city for the candidates of the by-election next month.   

She said three infrastructure projects need to be top of mind for candidates... Hewletts Road/Hull Road/Totara Street improvements, State Highway 29 grade separation and the Port of Tauranga extension. 

She also said early commentary from byelection candidates has been “out of touch” with the real needs of the constituency. 

Act and National have taken offence with Anne Tolley's comments. 

National Party candidate Sam Uffindell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. 

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