Prime Minister John Key is in Tauranga today looking at local businesses demonstrating an adaptive approach to working.

He spoke to journalists after inspecting progress on Mount Maunganui Intermediate's new classrooms.

John Key visiting Trustpower in Tauranga today. Photos: Daniel Hines.

John is also visiting Beca and Trustpower today.

Trustpower is an international power generator retailer based out of an award winning brand new headquarters in Durham Street, but why Beca?

'Beca are quite an interesting business because of what they're doing outside of the work they are doing in New Zealand,” says John.

'A lot of their international consultancy work is based out of Tauranga. And it's quite an interesting example of how people are choosing to live in the Bay of Plenty because the lifestyle is so good, but basing international business from Tauranga.

'There's a bit of a myth sometimes that everybody bases themselves in Auckland but then undertake international obligations and work from Auckland. It's not true, and Tauranga's been a big beneficiary of that. And Trustpower is another example of the model, both with its retail and its generation.”

Trustpower operates 38 hydro power stations across New Zealand, 19 hydroelectric power schemes, and two wind farms, and one diesel power station, run only when needed.

Trustpower also operates wind farms in South Australia and Victoria and wind farms and hydro stations in New South Wales.

Beca consults across the buildings, government, industrial, power, transport and water market segments, operating from hubs in Australia New Zealand and Asia, offering engineering, architecture and planning services, to project and cost management, software technology and valuation services.

Beca also works with power and industrial clients in NZ on energy generation and transmission, delivering alternative energy sources such as wind farms, hydro dams and transmission stations.

During a media stand-up at Mount Maunganui Intermediate, John answered questions about housing the homeless in Tauranga, reiterating earlier comments that people with issues should first go to WINZ, as many people are unaware of their entitlements.

He also answered questions from TVNZ about a second harbour crossing for Auckland – unlikely because too expensive, and other possibilities for managing Auckland traffic.