Narrow win for 'Team NZ' as Barack Obama tees off with John Key in Northland

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Barack Obama and Sir John Key on the Kauri Cliffs golf course.

'Team NZ' has claimed victory over Barack Obama, during the golf match between the former US President and former Prime Minister Sir John Key.

It was a close game, Key said, with the 44th US president just missing out on a win on the golf course.

Former US President Barack Obama choppers off to Northland to join John Key for a round or two of golf.

The 'great match' came down to the wire, Key explained. It was all square after 18 and Team NZ won on the second playoff hole.

Key said Obama was relaxed and loved the course at Kauri Cliffs - and his first glimpse of New Zealand - and was keen to return.

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Barack Obama arrives at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, before choppering north.

Barack Obama and Sir John Key teed off in Northland on Wednesday, during Obama's flying visit to New Zealand. .

The former US president travelled to the course by helicopter, flying out from Mechanics Bay in Auckland.

US Ambassador Mark Gilbert, Barack Obama, Sir John Key and Craig Heatley on the golf course.

Key, along with his wife Bronagh and son Max, were spotted dressed in their golfing gear and carrying clubs, before flying out before Obama on Wednesday morning.

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 private visit here. RNZ reporter Eva Corlett is covering the visit and is in the Auckland st

Two choppers were seen arriving at Kauri Cliffs golf course shortly after 9am.

While the game was friendly, it will be chalked up as yet another loss the US has suffered at the hands of New Zealand.

In 2017 in Bermuda, Oracle Team USA suffered defeat in the America's Cup, with Emirates Team New Zealand staging a 7-1 win over the republic.

Kauri Cliffs, a par 72 championship golf course, is ranked 39th in the world by Golf Digest. Fifteen holes face the Pacific Ocean, with six played atop cliffs which plunge to the sea.

Former PM Sir John Key and son Max at Mechanics Bay helicopter pad preparing for a day of golfing with Barack Obama.

Obama's private jet landed in Auckland at midnight on Tuesday.

A road near Air Centre One at Auckland International Airport was closed late Tuesday in preparation for his arrival, and the plane touched down from Singapore just after midnight.

He was whisked away in a Crown limo as part of a six-car motorcade, a far cry from the motorcade of 27 vehicles that it used to take to transport him during his time as president.

He will be in New Zealand until Friday, when he's scheduled to fly out to Sydney. Following his trip to Australia, he will visit Japan

The only public engagement will be a Powhiri at Government house, ahead of an invitation-only dinner on Thursday, where he will speak to 1000 invited guests in a moderated conversation hosted by the New Zealand-United States Council.

Obama will meet privately with PM Jacinda Ardern and is expected to raise the Kermadec ocean sanctuary.