If you neglect those who are currently poor and stable, you may create more poor and unstable people. There has been a tremendous concentration of donor interest in countries that are seen as particularly fragile - but it becomes harder to mobilise money for sub-Saharan, plain poor countries.

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

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?

Marine protected areas, and particularly no-take zones, are very effective in allowing regeneration of fish stocks.

Equity, dignity, happiness, sustainability - these are all fundamental to our lives but absent in the GDP.

Of course I have an opinion on many things but I don't micromanage.

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.