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

I think the issue of North Korea is one where the international community as a whole has to work to resolve the crisis.

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.

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.

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

We just sent our condolences to the President of the United States and the American people on what is a terrible, terrible tragedy.

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.