ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Barack Obama to visit New Zealand next month

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Sun, 25 Feb 2018, 2:28PM
Former US President Barack Obama (Photo \ Getty Images)
Former US President Barack Obama (Photo \ Getty Images)

Barack Obama to visit New Zealand next month

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Sun, 25 Feb 2018, 2:28PM

Former US President Barack Obama will visit New Zealand in March, it has been confirmed.

He will speak at an event hosted by the New Zealand-United States Council on March 22.

It is understood Obama's visit is being co-sponsored by Air NZ, Westpac, and MasterCard.

Obama is expected to be in New Zealand from March 21 to 23 - and has slotted in a game of golf with his old golfing rival Sir John Key while he is in town.

Obama will also meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern while in New Zealand.

New Zealand-United States Council chairman Leon Grice said: "President Obama's presidency had an extraordinary impact on the world and during his service,

New Zealand's deep friendship with the United States was strengthened politically, culturally, in trade and investment, innovation and security."

Key and Obama played golf together in Hawaii in 2014 and it is understood a rematch is on the agenda for Obama's New Zealand visit - likely in Key's favorite spot of Queenstown.

Then president Barack Obama played golf with John Key in Hawaii in 2014.

Then president Barack Obama played golf with John Key in Hawaii in 2014.

Following his brief Auckland visit the former US president will be heading to Sydney, Australia for another event hosted by the council.

The Herald revealed the planned trip earlier this month.

Obama has often promised to travel to New Zealand but did not do so while he was in office.

The last President to visit was Bill Clinton who came in 1999 for the APEC Summit - a visit that included a game of golf with former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley's husband Burton Shipley.

Clinton returned after he was out of office in 2002 to launch a new BMW.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you