It includes a section of State Highway 2 between Ōmokoroa and Te Puna that underwent major maintenance work in early 2020.
The event is marked with a commemorative pouwhenua at Tawhitinui Marae, unveiled on the 150th anniversary in April 2017.
[7] In September 2019, police began pursuing a driver in Whakamarama, following through Te Puna before eventually stopping them with road spikes in Bethlehem.
[15] Ardern responded that they were essential workers, resulting in international media coverage from the Washington Post,[16] the New York Times,[17] CNN,[18] BBC News,.
[21][22] In October 2020, the Government committed $68,682 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating an estimated 13 jobs.