Key keeps promise, opens lifestyle village

Prime Minister John Key gets a tour of the new Tui Products building. Photo/John Borren

UPDATE 12.24pm: Freedom Villages in Papamoa was officially opened today by Prime Minister John Key in a well attended public ceremony.

Mr Key's involvement with the $46 million lifestyle village began during the early planning days before he was elected Prime Minister.

As an MP, Mr Key always promised to return to open the village when it was completed.

Mr Key highlighted the aging population of New Zealand, with 60,000 people now over the age of 65.

Within 40 years, he predicted one million people would be over the age of 65.

People were living longer and he predicted it would be common for people to live to 100 years within the life span of the audience's children and grand children.

The village had been designed fore people looking for well-designed, low cost housing, he said.

EARLIER 10.27am: Prime Minister John Key has touched down in Tauranga and arrived at Tui garden suppliers in Mount Maunganui.

Mr Key is visiting the 10,500sq m purpose-built factory today as part of a visit to the Bay of Plenty.

The Prime Minister has been taken on a tour of the site and is has just finished speaking to staff.

Mr Key is now about to officially open a $46 million lifestyle village in Papamoa later this morning.