Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming. We look forward to working closely with President-elect Obama and his team to address these challenges.

In terms of having views and being prepared to express them, yes, I think New Zealand's had a leadership role in a lot of things.

Of course as a small country you're not necessarily in the strongest negotiating position unless you're negotiating with other small countries.

We need a lot of thinking and ideas. We need all the innovators, particularly with the new sustainable technologies - how do we get them to affordability so that people can generate clean energy?

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries on earth. Security issue or no security issue, there would need to be a focus on it.

New Zealand and SA should take this dimension into account, the skills South Africans are presently contributing to New Zealand.

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