Former prime minister Sir John Key is gearing up to take former US President Barack Obama "for a bit of a bash around some of New Zealand's great golf courses".
Mr Obama is due to fly into New Zealand in the next 24 hours on a private visit, most of which will be out of the media spotlight.
The former President will meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Government House in Auckland on Thursday and will be a guest speaker at a New Zealand-United States Council event at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre the same day.
Sir John has today told 1 NEWS he'll take the former president "out for a bit of a bash around some of new zealand's great golf courses and show off how beautiful the country is".
He said Air New Zealand, Mastercard and Westpac are sponsoring the event "really so we can kind of showcase New Zealand and attract him to come down to New Zealand. He couldn't make it when he was President so just as good having him now".
Asked how good a golfer is Mr Obama, Sir John said: "He's pretty good actually. He's competitive and he's an absolute stickler for the rules, unlike a few former presidents who are sort of known for using the foot wedge so to speak. He plays by the rules perfectly.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she'll give reporters "any insights that might be of interest" after she meets Obama on Wednesday.
"And he's great fun. He just wants to have a bit of rest and relaxation in amongst what's a fairly busy schedule round Asia for him. And I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it."
Sir John said hopefully the visit will encourage Mr Obama to bring his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha to New Zealand.
"What he's been wanting to do is actually is come for much longer. But their schedules haven't permitted, and the time they could come wouldn't be the most perfect time to play golf because it'd be in the middle of the year."
Sir John says Mr Obama's visit will have fantastic value for New Zealand.
"He has a hundred million followers on Twitter and Facebook and the like. You put up one picture of a New Zealand golf course and him having a bit of fun, that's got to have a fantastic value for us."
Sir John said the New Zealanders who get an opportunity to meet Barack Obama "will come away feeling they''ve met a real world leader, a statesman, a great guy".
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