It's good to talk, as Key tours Bay | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

John Key made slow progress in Hawke's Bay on Sunday, with the crowds lining up to greet him during his electioneering visit.

Perfect weather made his morning ramble through the Farmers Market at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds pleasant and he enjoyed much of the food on offer.

He exclaimed aloud at the spinach and feta sausages of Marietjie Armstrong and went behind the counter of the food caravan of the Bambu Kitchen for a photo opportunity.

At Napier's telephone exchange in Browning St he tried his hand at splicing fibre optic cable with Chorus staff, who are due to start rolling out ultra-fast broadband cables in Napier and Hastings.

The nation's media were at the exchange for a mystery announcement. There were two - the imminent start of the ultra-fast broadband roll out in Hawke's Bay and that the oil recovery phase of shipwrecked Rena was at an end.

A stroll in Ahuriri, starting at The Gin Trap, took longer than expected with Mr Key chatting to the many people outside the various drinking establishments on the way to his late lunch at Shed 2.

Tukituki MP Craig Foss said being able to facilitate the meeting of so many Hawke's Bay people with the Prime Minister "is one of the joys of the job".