Health and education are always issues.

In terms of protecting ourselves, the main issues are around how do we protect our borders [from illegal migrants and livestock and plant diseases], how do we protect our fisheries?

Any serious shift towards more sustainable societies has to include gender equality.

In the end, there will always be a fundamental difference of perspective between New Zealand and Australia on defense, whoever is in government.

I felt really compromised. I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship [with husband Peter Davis] except for going into Parliament. I have always railed against it privately.

I think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom.

I only take on roles that I'm passionate about. Life is too short to do things that you're not happy with.