Bay of Plenty election candidates will discuss their views on social issues at a forum on October 1.

Candidates from the main parties will answer four questions about their policies, followed by questions from the audience.

Participants include Labour's Angie Warren-Clark and Tamati Coffey, National's Todd Muller, Cameron Luxton from ACT, Tricia Lawrence from NZ First, Josh Cole of the Green Party and Rawiri Waititi of the Māori Party.

SociaLink, the Western Bay umbrella group for social service providers and community organisations, is holding the forum.

SociaLink general manager Liz Davies says the forum is an opportunity to find out how the parties approach social issues and ask questions directly to the candidates.

It is open to anyone in the community, and social service providers.

The forum will also launch the Western Bay of Plenty's Child Poverty Action Group.

The groups works to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand through research, education and advocacy. It has over 4000 members and supporters across New Zealand – academics, doctors, teachers, health workers, community workers and others concerned about the high numbers of children living in low income families.

The forum will be at The Kollective, 17th Avenue on Thursday, October 1 starting at 5pm.