The race for the Auckland Central MP seat is well underway, with the first candidate debate last night

Incumbent Green Party MP, Chloe Swarbrick, National's Mahesh Muralidhar Labour's Oscar Sims, and TOP's Damian Sycamore all spoke at St Matthew-in-the-City.

Rounds of applause and heckles were all dished out within the first 10 minutes -- Sims copping flack from a few when discussing the Government's track-record on ram-raids.

Crime was top of the agenda, closely followed by the city's housing woes and issues with homelessness.

Roads and transport was another hot button issue -- with big discussions over what infrastructure Auckland needs, and investment in public transport.