A segment on the TV show Story in the style of Family Feud featuring Auckland's mayoral candidates has been canned after they couldn't agree on a date.
Family Feud is hosted by Dai Henwood, centre, and pits teams of contestants against each other in a quiz. Photo: Mediaworks
TV3 has been trying for more than a month to herd seven candidates into the studio, with first one and then another candidate dropping out.
Those invited were: David Hay, Phil Goff, Vic Crone, John Palino, Chloe Swarbrick, Mark Thomas and Alezix Heneti.
One of the candidates, David Hay, said some of his rivals had "chickened out", and he would made the show his top priority.
"I thought it was a genius idea, using a prime-time show to create interest in local body elections," he said.
Family Feud - hosted by comedian Dai Henwood - pits teams of contestants against each other in a quiz.
In one email, Story producer Catherine Roper told the potential contestants that Phil Goff was unavailable and that as a result Vic Crone had also withdrawn.
Two other dates were tried before the network gave up on the idea.
Auckland mayoral candidates, from left: Mark Thomas, John Palino, Vic Crone and Phil Goff, at RNZ's debate on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
A spokesperson for Mr Goff said one problem was being given only a few days notice of filming dates, when he was already committed to community events.
Both Mark Thomas and a spokesperson for Miss Crone said they were ready to go, and Chloe Swarbrick said she was available for the first two proposed dates but not the third.
"We have had difficulties with candidates simply not being available, and we can now confirm we don't have enough to be able to go ahead," the producer wrote to candidates yesterday.