A Hastings councillor has issued an open invitation to Oprah Winfrey to visit Hawke's Bay when the Talk Show Queen comes to New Zealand later this year.
Oprah is bringing a show "An evening with Oprah" to New Zealand and Australia in December, with one show scheduled for Auckland.
She has not announced any plans to come to Hawke's Bay, but this has not deterred Hastings District Councillor Henare O'Keefe, who has long admired her.
He believes a visit by one of the world's most powerful women to the Bay and his ward of Flaxmere, in particular, would "uplift the entire community".
Mr O'Keefe said he had not approached Oprah or the organisers of her tour yet, but was hoping that the message would get to her.