North mayors thrilled to have Obama in Northland, despite missing invite list for banquet

Northland's mayors are thrilled to have Barack Obama in the region, despite being left off the invite list to a banquet with the former US president.

A selection of mayors from across New Zealand are among 1000 people invited to a banquet with Mr Obama in Auckland tonight. Far North mayor John Carter, Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai and Kaipara mayor Jason Smith all confirmed they had not received an invite.

Mr Carter said it was "absolutely bloody fantastic" that Obama had come to Northland, and his fellow mayors agreed.

"New Zealand is the nicest country in the world and Northland is the nicest part, so he's in the nicest part of the world," Mr Carter said.

The mayors all said social media posts by and of Obama in Northland, would provide huge publicity for the region.

Labour deputy leader and Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis is attending the banquet in his role as Minister of Tourism.

NZ First Leader Winston Peters was invited, but would not be attending due to having other commitments keeping him in Wellington.

Shane Jones, who has been taking shots at Air NZ who are sponsoring the banquet, was also invited. National leader Simon Bridges said Mr Jones should not accept corporate hospitality from Air NZ if he was so opposed to their actions.

Jones said he was invited to the dinner, and "as a proxy for the 52 per cent owner of Air New Zealand, I'll go where I like".