Prime Minister John Key has disappointed South Westland residents planning celebrations to mark 50 years since the Haast Pass Highway was officially opened.
Organising committee chairman Wayne Allanson, of Haast, told the Otago Daily Times this week an invitation was sent to Mr Key 18 months ago but it was declined about a month ago.
''We were pretty disappointed by that,'' Mr Allanson said and a ''polite'' request had been made for him to reconsider, or for another Government minister to attend.
Mr Allanson said he had not yet received a reply.
''You can only put the invite there.
''You can't force someone to come if they do not wish to,'' Mr Allanson said.
A spokeswoman in the Prime Minister's office told the ODT Mr Key was unable to attend because of ''prior commitments''.
For security reasons, she declined to say what these commitments were but said some events in the Prime Minister's diary were organised three years ahead.
The spokeswoman said Mr Key wished organisers and the local community ''all the very best for the event''.
Mr Allanson felt it would have been appropriate to have Mr Key at the celebrations because the last 50km link in the highway - between Haast and Paringa - was officially opened by National Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake on November 6, 1965.
The ODT reported Sir Keith as saying the highway was ''an enduring national asset'' which underlined ''the unity of the whole country''.
''I want you to know that you haven't seen New Zealand until you have seen the grandeur of South Westland,'' he told the crowd.
Those the ODT have spoken to who were at the opening recall Sir Keith receiving a very wet South Westland welcome.
Torrential rain was so heavy the road had to be closed again, temporarily, shortly after it was opened.
Edward ''Sos'' Watson, of Lake Hawea, who died earlier this year, worked on the road for many years and recalled, with some glee, one unofficial part of the opening ceremony.
He was was one of the 1000 people standing in oilskin jackets and gumboots, looking up at Sir Keith and other dignitaries through the rain.
''We were actually soaked to the hide.
''It was absolutely pouring.''
The official party was on a platform, where it remained dry beneath a tarpaulin cover.
''And we were all standing there, watching it getting lower and lower and filling up with water - probably had two or three hundred gallons of water sitting on top of the tarpaulin.
''And the ropes broke and they got the lot.
''We just absolutely roared, because were were all soaked to the hide.''
Road historian Les McKenzie, of Greymouth, was further back in the crowd and recalled this week ''something happened'' on the stage, but he could not remember exactly what.
Mr McKenzie is encouraging former work mates and their families to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations from November 6-8, and is collecting photos for a museum collection.
The official opening at Knights Point is to be re-enacted as part of the celebrations.
Registration for the event closes on Friday.
'Truly Westland's finest hour'
Part of the official opening of the Haast Highway, conducted in torrential rain at Knights Point, in 1965, consisted of Westland Member of Parliament Paddy Blanchfield reading a poem he had written:
''The lovely lakes, set in like gems,
Where mighty Cook and Tasman tower,
Have been opened up for all to see,
This is Westland's finest hour.''
To which, Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake responded: ''This is truly Westland's finest hour but I would not like to be here during it's wettest hour.''
