It was a day of plaque unveiling, smiles and waves, as Prime Minister John Key visited Te Puke.
Yesterday, Mr Key visited residents and staff at Te Puke's Vincent House, a training centre that helps people with mental illness and trains them in a craft. He took a tour of the factory, where residents create art frames to sell, before being given morning tea.
Manager Jack Smith said the prime minister's visit would be of significant positive impact on residents.
At the new New World supermarket site in Jocelyn St, pre-schoolers and children from Fairhaven School sang for Mr Key, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Rotorua MP Todd McClay and Western Bay of Plenty MP Ross Paterson as the Te Puke kiwifruit mascot danced along.
Dressed in pink, members of the Boobops breast-cancer dragon-boat team formed a guard of honour with their paddles for Mr Key as he unveiled the supermarket's plaque for the opening.