Opportunities for Auckland voters to see democracy in action in this year's mayoral election might be few and far between.

Incumbent Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is seeking re-election against 11 other contenders.

But few mayoral debates are being lined up before voting opens on 9 September.

In what is already a battle to draw interest to local body elections, which notoriously struggle to attract a strong turnout, one mayoral candidate is concerned a lacklustre campaign will ensure the vote remains low.

The University of Auckland Debating Society told RNZ it had hoped to hold a mayoral debate on Tuesday, 5 August.

External events manager Robert Hoskins said it invited three candidates: Kerrin Leoni, Ted Johnston and current mayor Wayne Brown, but only Leoni responded.

He said the team had spoken to someone from the mayor's office last month, who said they would pass their request to the mayor's campaign team.

The society's lively candidate debate in 2022, hosted by broadcaster Jack Tame, attracted hundreds of students.

It also held a debate in 2019.

"In both cases, we had all major candidates willing to attend, though we ran our 2022 debate quite early, before Wayne Brown was considered a major candidate, and as such, we did not invite him," Hoskins said.

He was still hopeful Brown might agree to participate.

"Students appreciate getting direct engagement with candidates. These events are well attended. We sometimes get upwards of 500 students attending, and many more watch the livestream.

"Students do care about what's going on in Auckland and their local wards. Not having any engagement with them is a real shame."

The Auckland Business Chamber, which held a mayoral debate in 2022, told RNZ it would not have one this year, but did not elaborate why.

The Penrose Business Association said it planned to hold a mayoral debate, but it had not come together yet.

Leoni said she received debate invitations from the Auckland University Debating Society and the Institute of Directors.

"It's unacceptable that they [the Debating Society] have not been able to go ahead with their event, knowing that the main person I'm up against, or he's up against me, has not even responded to the invite.

"I'm still waiting to hear back from the Institute of Directors if we're going to go ahead. But from what I've heard, Wayne Brown is saying no to debates."

She was eager to debate Brown and called on him to front up.

"Organisations organising debates and events want to have the sitting mayor there, and so he should be.

"I actually think it's quite arrogant. He's basically saying to Aucklanders, I'm better than anyone else, so why should I turn up. That's not good enough.

"He should be fronting up to debate anyone else standing for mayor.

"It's concerning for democracy, and I'm disappointed in Wayne Brown."

In the city's last local elections, just 405,149 votes were returned, 35.4 percent of enrolled voters.

In 2019's election, the voter turnout was 35.3 percent.

Leoni said debates were a way to bolster interest.

"We have a responsibility as candidates to debate our policies in public so Aucklanders can hear our opinions and know what they're actually voting for."

She said she had committed to a handful of meet the candidates events.

Community Hub Future Whangaparāoa said Kerrin Leoni was the only mayoral candidate registered for its meet the candidates meeting on Sunday, 14 September.

When contacted by RNZ, a spokesperson for Wayne Brown's campaign was non-committal about debates or panels.

"Wayne has a very busy schedule as mayor across the city. He gets many requests from various groups across Auckland's many diverse communities and will be engaging with them as the election continues.

"He will be strongly contesting this race against the 11 other candidates."

RNZ asked all mayoral candidates who provided contact details if they wanted a debate.

Rob Mcneil from the Animal Justice Party said he was "very interested to debate other mayoral candidates at any point".

He said he had been invited to a debate in Warkworth on 10 September, held by One Mahurangi Business Association.

Johnston told RNZ he was also "quite willing to debate the other candidates".

He said he had received four debate invitations.

The Institute of Directors has been contacted for comment.