Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull is one of the select group of civic and business leaders invited to a dinner with former president of the United States Barack Obama in Auckland tonight.
Mr Cull was unsure who had invited him to the banquet but said it was privilege to be asked.
He will join the mayors of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Nelson at the invitation-only banquet, with about 1000 guests.
He would try his best to get a couple of seconds with the former president, but Mr Cull said he was aware of the logistics.
''I'll do my best but I am aware there will be 1000 people there - and so I don't think there will be 100 selfies.''
The 44th president arrived in New Zealand yesterday for a three-day visit which includes meeting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, playing golf in Northland with former prime minister Sir John Key and the 1000-guest banquet dinner.
The dinner will be held on the Auckland waterfront and actor Sam Neill will be hosting an hour of conversation with the former president.
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Are we as ratepayers paying for this little jaunt or is cull paying from his own pocket?.
Terrific, I just hope he has a lovely time and can afford to pay for this himself. There is obviously no benefit to ratepayers for him to have this trip so no excuse to have council pay for it.
One, Obama is NOT one of the most powerful men in the world... and never was. And two... Us ratepayers had better not be paying for this bauble of office. We already spend too much.