Highlanders general manager Roger Clark announced yesterday the trio had committed to the Highlanders for the 2012 and 2013 season.
Both Smith and Slade are former All Blacks while Bekhuis is one of the most promising locks in the country and is tipped to wear the black jersey in the coming years.
Clark said it was great news for the franchise to sign three key players.
"And it is good news for the fans here as these guys are some of the most exciting rugby talent we have in the country."
Smith (24) was in the All Blacks in 2009 and has been in tremendous form this season while Bekhuis (25) has also moved up to another level this year.
Slade (23) has had a horror year, breaking his jaw twice and playing less than 130 minutes of rugby for the franchise. He is unlikely to be seen in the Highlanders jersey again this season. But he looms as the back-up pivot for the All Blacks and has undoubted class in the crucial No 10 jersey.
With a raft of first five-eighths expected to leave New Zealand after the World Cup his signing is a real coup for the Highlanders.
Slade said yesterday he had really enjoyed his time with the Highlanders this year and coach Jamie Joseph had wanted him to stay.
"One of the main reasons I came down here was to establish myself as a 10 and that is what I still want to do in the long term and I believe I can do that down here," Slade said.
He admitted part of the reason for signing was to make up for this season where injury has blighted his year.
The Canterbury pivot said he did not want to wait and see what Crusaders and All Black first five-eighth Dan Carter was doing.
"DC [Carter] has got all his processes to go through about what he is doing and I just wanted some assurance around what I was doing.
"That was a big motivation for me. To get some assurance and look forward to the future."
He said Christchurch was still home and he had a provincial contract with Canterbury for the next couple of years. Going overseas was not an option at this stage, he said.
The signings are a huge boost for the franchise and lay the foundations for the next couple of years.
With Jimmy Cowan also signed until at least the end of next year, along with Tom Donnelly and Adam Thomson, the Highlanders look to be building some experience, along with talent.
Captain Jamie Mackintosh is signed until the end of this season and is in talks with the franchise about signing a new contract. All contracts have get-out clauses but if these players can stay on the park then the Highlanders will have a top class axis to build a side.
