"They were not breathtaking moments, they were profound moments."
Those are the words of Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick after attending the 1000-guest banquet with former US president Barack Obama at the Auckland Viaduct Event Centre.
She told the Rotorua Daily Post the first thing that stood out to her was how quiet and respectful the audience was.
"It was a very measured evening. We were all very humbled to see him on the stage so relaxed and frank."
The 44th president of the United States of America avoided political discussions, and no photos of him were allowed, but Chadwick said she will not forget the key messages of his speech about leadership.
"He explained the importance of having talented people around you, having a shared vision and a diverse group around you. He said you need diversity or you will miss the point of what people want to see and hear.
"It did not matter whether people were from NGOs or businesses or elsewhere, they were all nodding in agreement."
Chadwick said the former President also reinforced the importance of women in leadership.