Obama Downunder
Golf with the Keys
Former US President Barack Obama is enthused about his first visit to New Zealand this week, says his friend Sir John Key who is planning the fun part of the trip.
“I know that he is excited about the trip,” Key told the Weekend Herald.
“He is staying for a few days but I know he would like to stay longer.
“Maybe this will whet his appetite to come back for a longer visit.”
Obama is travelling on his own, without wife Michelle or daughters Sasha and Malia.
Key is organising the recreational part of Obama’s visit which will include two golf games in Northland with some carefully chosen players.
Key’s son Max, who joined his father and Obama for a famous golf game in Hawaii in 2014, will have a catch-up too.
“He could be in the vicinity,” said Key.
He would not say where the golf would be played or where Obama would stay but Kauri Cliffs at Matauri Bay is a luxury lodge fit for a president, and has a world class golf course.
Obama arrives in Auckland late on Tuesday, stays for two full days including the golf excursion and leaves for Australia on Friday after meeting some young New Zealanders.
He will receive a Ma¯ori welcome at Government House in Auckland on Thursday and is expected to meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern there.
Obama has been brought to New Zealand by the NZ-US Council to promote the relationship between the two countries which was iced for many years over New Zealand’s antinuclear policy.
He will speak at an invitation-only dinner for 1000 people on Thursday night in Auckland.
His trip is part of a four-day swing around Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
Key said he had chosen the other golf partners as people whose company Obama would enjoy.
Key and Obama came to power at almost the same time in 2008 and became very friendly through multilateral summits. Key has not seen Obama since November 2016, just before Key suddenly resigned.
“In the eight years we spent together when he was President of the United States and I was Prime Minister, he talked a lot about coming to New Zealand and genuinely wanted to visit but his schedule didn’t permit.
“He had always talked to me about bringing Michelle and the girls down to New Zealand and I know that is something he would love to do.
“Hopefully he will make an extended trip some time in the future”.
Key described Obama as one of the greatest orators of his time.
Air New Zealand, Westpac and MasterCard are co-sponsoring the visit.