Security-heavy Obama visit to NZ unlikely to cause disruption for traffic-congested Auckland

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Now that Obama has left office his security detail will have been pared-down.

Police are expecting few delays for Auckland motorists during Barack Obama's visit despite a Secret Service presence during the trip.

US Presidents and their spouses are granted security protection for life although they can decline US taxpayer-funded protection as Nixon did in 1985.

A large number of roads in Canberra had to be closed down when US President Barack Obama visited there in 2011.

In Obama's case that could mean up to a dozen armed agents protecting him in New Zealand for his visit from Wednesday to Friday, according to security analyst Paul Buchanan.

Those secret service agents come with strings attached.

Former US President Bill Clinton with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley during his visit to New Zealand in 1999.

* Barack Obama to visit New Zealand in March

* Air New Zealand tipped to host former US President Obama on New Zealand visit**

It is long-established protocol that no President or ex-President is allowed to drive their own vehicle while under secret service protection.

Former President Bill Clinton once said not being able to drive again was one of the hardest restrictions that came with the position.

A typical Presidential motorcade filled with vehicles driven by security personnel can stretch to 20 cars and often requires road closures according to US motoring website The Drive.

A spokesperson for police said they were not willing to go into specifics on security arrangements including how many roads might be shut down during Obama's visit.

'At this time we are not anticipating any significant disruption arising from police actions during the visit.'

Barney Irvine, spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure issues for the AA, said the effects of such visits tended to be localised to places a foreign dignitary might be staying at or speaking at.

'On a city-wide scale I wouldn't expect any impact.'

When Presidents leave office their security detail is also whittled down to the non-nuclear essentials.

This means Obama won't be protected by 'The Beast' the infamous $1.5m limousine he rode in while in office which is currently being used by President Trump.

The Beast was reportedly strong enough to withstand a blast from a rocket propelled grenade and had an independent air supply that could keep the President alive during a nuclear attack.

President Bill Clinton also had a convoy of support vehicles when he visited New Zealand in 1999 for APEC that would have given him a good chance of surviving a nuclear attack.

By 2002 Clinton had downsized to a more modest six-car motorcade when he visited the city again after leaving office.

Buchanan says Obama will likely be served by two rings of defence during his visit.

The outer ring will be composed of New Zealand Police officers providing perimeter security, crowd control, and security for the ex-President's motorcade.

An additional ring of security would be provided by an inner core of US secret service agents who would protect the President as he makes his way around New Zealand's largest city.