On 30 March Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern officially opened the new motorway. The event started with a dawn ceremony with an ope from Ngāti Toa Rangatira travelling the length of Transmission Gully to carry out a karakia and blessing of the road before it was opened to the public. Once the karakia was completed, Ngāti Toa were joined by whānau from Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa to pōwhiri dignitaries and central and local government representatives to the opening event.
