The Waharoa (gateway) structure overlooks a historic pa site which once stood in the area of the new Paengaroa roundabout. The work marks the most eastern entry and exit point of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL).
Completed by Te Toi Takapu carvers, the design represents a father and his sons who lived and grew vegetables in the area, in the 1600s.
NZ Transport Agency TEL senior project manager, Wayne Troughton, said the Waharoa captured the essence of the former Maori village and would give motorists travelling on the TEL a greater appreciation of the history of the area.
"It adds distinctive character to the area, the landscape and the driving experience," he said.