Thousands of people have lined the streets of central Napier for this afternoon's Art Deco Parade.
But many did not notice Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, an 11th-hour inclusion in the hour-long, sun-swathed parade after her acceptance of an invitation was announced only late on Friday afternoon.
She was dressed in sunfrock and hat, but visible mainly to those on the southern side of the difficult path through pedestrian-vehicle CBD thoroughfare Emerson St as she rode in the open-aired rear seat of Wanaka vintage luminary Robert Duncan's 1918 Packard V12.
Beside her were Art Deco-attired Isabella and Will, children of Napier MP Stuart Nash, closer to the hills-side of the street where the major clue to her close proximity was the wired-up protection squad member seated beside the driver.
Despite the almost-unbelievable road and foot traffic into, in and around Clive and Memorial squares, Emerson St and Marine Pde, the parade was able to start on time with the PM and the Packard about 10-back, when many might have expected her to be at the head of the parade, lead by perennial front piece, the 1937 Austin 7 of Art Deco ambassador Bertie attended immediately by the Navy band.
