A relaxed Prime Minister began his Tauranga Eastern Link opening speech thanking and complimenting organisers of the powhiri and, in particular, kaumatua for the Tangata Whenua Pouroto Ngaropo.

In seven years as PM, Key has attended many powhiri where there is usually someone to whisper a running commentary in his ear.

Simon, John, Anne and Todd at the TEL opening. Photos and video: Tracy Hardy.

Pouroto Ngaropto's style of phrasing in Te Reo and then translating as he went was appreciated.

'You do a really good job giving both translations,” says John. 'It just encourages people to understand a little more.”

Wearing a jacket and wielding a tewhatewha or battleaxe, Pouroto in full moko, added a visual counterpoint to the marquee tent full of suits.

The marquee on the right hand land of the ramp from the Domain Road overbridge was just a couple of hundred metres east of the actual ribbon cutting site, chosen so the pa site sculpture - the biggest artwork in the country - is in the background.

Guests included the mayors, councillors of the district city and regional councils, staff from the construction consortium made up of Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction Alliance (FHHCA), the NZ Transport Agency and Beca, and representatives from the iwi whose traditional rohe is associated with the route of the $455 four-lane million highway.

John Key says he decided to open the highway to settle arguments going round Parliament a month or so ago over which of the MPs; Transport Minister and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller, would get their name on the plaque

'I decided to make it easier for them, says John.

The 21 km long Tauranga Eastern Link includes the largest roundabout in the country and seven bridges, says John.

'That's close to the ten we promised in Northland, they are still waiting, but we are getting there.”

The highway's construction is broght forward ten years because there is 93 per cent support for the tolling option.

It's a decision John says shows maturity from the community aware of the benefits the four lane highway will bring to the region.

He congratulated the transport agency and the contractors.

NZTA CEO Geoff Dangerfield called Transport Minister Simon Bridges ‘Mr Double Happy'

'I want him to remember two things; ahead of time and under budget,” says Geoff.

Simon Bridges says the TEL is going to benefit the whole Bay of Plenty. Congratulated the builders and says not only is it the biggest road built in the Bay of Plenty, it is the best road in the country, bar none.

'For business and for the people of the entire Bay of Plenty this is going to be a game changer,” says Simon. 'I think it brings the Bay of Plenty closer together.

It doesn't just enable, it ensures economic growth.

The 21km of TEL that cuts 24 minutes from the round trip into the port is going to make the local economy more efficient and more productive.

'We are going to get fewer, longer, heavier trucks that are more productive coming from the east through to this port. That makes us the best we can possible be and we need to be in a country this small and remote.”

As part of the official opening ceremonies the guests wre taken on a test drive of the new highway to the Paengaroa roundabout and back in about a 100 vintage and veteran cars, at slightly less than highway speed.