The by-election candidates have had a busy final day campaigning for the votes of Tauranga's people.

Election day begins tomorrow, June 18, and candidates are out making sure that the concerns from the Tauranga public are being acknowledged.

One prominent discussion among the candidates in the final days of campaigning is the burning and suspected arson of the Rainbow Youth Centre earlier this week.

National candidate Sam Uffindell, joined by senior MPs Mark Mitchell, Louise Upston and Simeon Brown discussed the topic at a media stand up on Thursday, July 16.

National candidate Sam Uffindell joined by senior National MPs Louise Upston (left), Mark Mitchell and Simeon Brown. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

'My sympathies are with them. I was shocked when I heard the news,” says Uffindell.

Uffindell adds he spent his morning following the event donating blood, so he had not had a chance to comment on the matter prior to the gathering with the MPs.

SunLive approached Labour candidate Jan Tinetti for a comment on the matter, with no response.

Labour candidate Jan Tinetti. Photo: File/SunLive.

Tinetti shared her thoughts on the suspected arson in an Instagram post.

'I am deeply saddened by what has happened to the rainbow centre,” says Tinetti.

'This has been a place of safety, inclusion and support for our rainbow community in Tauranga - a place where we can celebrate the diversity of our city.

'I've visited the site today to stand in solidarity with our rainbow community. I will be advocating for a full investigation into the cause of the fire.”

ACT candidate Cameron Luxton is being joined by party leader David Seymour today to send off his campaigning prior to the election.

ACT candidate Cameron Luxton and party leader David Seymour. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Luxton says that although the issue is under investigation by police, he hopes it gets dealt with if the cause is found to be malicious.

"It is absolutely horrendous what has happened. Our hearts go out to the LGBT community of Tauranga," says Luxton.

"From my understaning the police are doing an investigation, and if it is found to be a targetted attack then that is awful."

Luxton adds that he supports people's freedom of expression, and he would not want to see people harmed because of their viewpoint.

NZ Outdoors and Freedoms Candidate Sue Grey. Supplied Photo.

NZ Outdoors and Freedoms candidate Sue Grey says that she was 'very sad” to hear about the burning of the Rainbow Hub building at Tauranga's Historic Village.

'We held a democracy meeting at the Historic Village last Saturday afternoon. It is a beautiful venue,” says Grey.

'It's devastating that our community has become so divided. It seems that some feel so angry they have lost perspective and respect for both community and property.

'A focus of my campaign has been to try to engage with those who feel discriminated against or isolated, and provide a voice for different perspectives. We all live be here and all our voices are important.

'It's so important that we find ways to overcome the discrimination and division created by the current regime.

'We need leadership that listens and inspires ways to rebuild trust and hope. My vision is that we reclaim New Zealand for all our people so we can celebrate both unity and diversity.”

New Conservative candidate Helen Houghton says that activists are "targetting children with harmful ideologies."

New Conservative candidate Helen Houghton.

"They're indoctrinating kids with anti-biology teaching on gender and are now attacking religious schools like Bethlehem College for their beliefs. This has to stop," says Houghton, who is also the New Conservative Co-leader and Education Spokeswoman.

Houghton also calls for a "complete ban" on "harmful, unscientific gender theory education in all schools, and a complete ban on sex-ed for primary school children."

Houghton adds there needs to be "more independence" for religious schools so they can "have confidence taht their beliefs and funding are securing against campaigns and attacks by anti-religious activists."

SunLive has reached out to the other by-election candidates for comment, and will provide an update as soon as possible.