Prime Minister helps cook up storm at 'best ever' A&P Show

SURPRISE GUEST: Prime Minister John Key has a joke with Prue Boult, from Woodford House, in Havelock North. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

The final day of the Royal Show went off with a bang with a surprise visit from Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key arrived mid-morning, just in time to lend a hand to celebrity chef Chelsea Winter.

He donned a pinny and grated lemon zest while telling the audience he enjoyed cooking. It was later we heard his favourite was beef stroganoff, but he did confess to making gazpacho soup for his wife nearly every week.

Tried and true favourites remained a staple this year with Diane Streeter of Havelock North, who won best bacon and egg pie.

Like every year the amusement area was crammed, but the action ground to a halt when the sideshows lost power. John Mahon, who runs Mahon's Amusements, said there was a spike in the power when a large circuit breaker switched off.

The power was off for about 15 minutes but Mr Mahon said no danger was caused to people on the rides at the time.

After travelling from Waipakarau to the show for the past 50 years, Annabelle Hamilton said this year's show was the best yet.

"All the young ones come and it's marvellous," Mrs Hamilton said.

She was cooling off inside the Taste Hawke's Bay pavilion around the food stalls that had been taken indoors this year for the first time.

It was not all fun and games though, Mr Key stepped aside to discuss some hot issues before he left.

He said he supported the Ruataniwha Dam, noting water storage facilities were important to Hawke's Bay.

Mr Key said the region was extremely productive and "produce[d] some of the greatest agricultural products in the country".

In the wake of a dry El Nino, the potential of a summer drought was a concern.

"We've certainly been supportive of water storage schemes and irrigation schemes and we think Ruataniwha is very important."

Mr Key also touched on the recent controversy around changes to gun-purchasing laws.

He said a review of the laws was still underway but for now the recent alterations were sensible.