I think that generally New Zealand is respected for the positions it takes because it thinks them through.

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

I don't know that you're ever going to persuade New Zealanders that they're not going to own their own homes and I'm not going to try.

I think the penny has dropped that the All Blacks aren't automatically just going to be the best team in the world.

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?

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

Fortunately New Zealand doesn't have land borders so we are able to be somewhat more rigorous on who gets in and out of our country than perhaps some people.