Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Editorial: Obama no-show would still be good for Northland

By Craig Cooper
Editor·Northern Advocate·
20 Mar, 2018 06:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Former US President Barack Obama is an avid golf fan. Photo / Getty Images

Former US President Barack Obama is an avid golf fan. Photo / Getty Images

Barack Obama's visit to New Zealand is a secret one.

Typically, anyone attending an event that Obama is at is banned from taking photos or videos, or using social media platforms.

So if Obama is playing golf in Northland, as rumoured, we will be unlikely to see selfies with his caddy emerge, unless his caddy is Steve Williams.

Which it isn't, our page 2 story today pours cold water on the theory that Williams is in Northland, so is Obama, therefore they could be walking the fairways alongside John Key and other selected glitterati.

Kauri Cliffs, at Matauri Bay and Carrington Golf Course, on Karikari Peninsula, are two beautiful courses that Obama could grace the greens of.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He could also play at Tara Iti - an exclusive course near Mangawhai that prides itself on privacy - it's the reason why it attracts exclusive members happy to pay expensive membership fees.

Regardless of where he plays, Obama is likely to chopper in and out - you won't see him buying fish and chips at the Mangonui Fish Shop, or filling a rented Holden at a local gas station.

And it is probably going to be an early round, a "dawn session" as surfers call it.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Someone reckoned there were no choppers available in Northland today and tomorrow.

Probably because optimistic media (not in the Northern Advocate's budget sorry) have hired them to buzz a golf course or two.

And even if he doesn't come to Northland, his visit has been good for the region.

"Barack Obama" is one of the world's most popular Google searches (funnily enough, not as popular as Donald Trump, though) and anyone searching it this week will also be looking at stories about Northland.

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

Revealed: Obama's NZ golfing buddy

19 Mar 07:00 AM
New Zealand|politics

Key on Obama: 'He's a stickler for the rules'

19 Mar 05:58 PM
Golf

Key in form ahead of rounds with Obama

19 Mar 09:20 PM
New Zealand|politics

Obama jets in to Auckland tonight

20 Mar 03:58 AM

If the former president does play in Northland, it will be a hole-in-one for the region. If he doesn't, well, we still shot a below par round this week.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

Court backs sacking of Northland doctor who sent 'flirty texts' to junior

06 Jul 09:13 PM
Northern Advocate

Far North Mayor calls on New Zealanders to vote for Māori wards in October

06 Jul 08:12 PM
Northern Advocate

‘Flying’ through the air: Grandfather's call for safer crossings after crash

06 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

Court backs sacking of Northland doctor who sent 'flirty texts' to junior

Court backs sacking of Northland doctor who sent 'flirty texts' to junior

06 Jul 09:13 PM

The sexual harassment investigation led to the doctor taking 10 months' stress leave.

Far North Mayor calls on New Zealanders to vote for Māori wards in October

Far North Mayor calls on New Zealanders to vote for Māori wards in October

06 Jul 08:12 PM
‘Flying’ through the air: Grandfather's call for safer crossings after crash

‘Flying’ through the air: Grandfather's call for safer crossings after crash

06 Jul 05:00 PM
'Serious-to-critical': Crash shuts SH1 in Northland, delays expected

'Serious-to-critical': Crash shuts SH1 in Northland, delays expected

06 Jul 08:48 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP