Obama's visit will boost NZ's profile - Gilbert

Former US President Barack Obama has arrived in New Zealand. He landed just after midnight having travelled from Singapore by private jet for his three-day visit. Mr Obama's visit will include a formal powhiri in Auckland on Thursday, a private talk with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and an invite-only event on Thursday night. Today the avid golfer is expected to play a couple of rounds in Northland with former Prime Minister Sir John Key. The ambassador to New Zealand during Mr Obama's presidency, Mark Gilbert, has returned here while Mr Obama's in Aotearoa. He told RNZ reporter Eva Corlett the visit will boost New Zealand's profile, not least amongst the former president's 87 million Twitter followers.