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Peter Hamilton spent 35 years working behind the scenes to advance New Zealand's interests overseas as a diplomat.
He held posts in Fiji, Canada, Geneva, Samoa, Germany and Singapore and rose to become deputy-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
He's now written a memoir called New Moons for Sam, which begins with his early life as a British migrant to New Zealand and his time as a student teacher in the Pacific, and moves on to his experiences during his overseas postings.
It also expands on his long-held view that New Zealand is mature enough to have its own Head of State, rather than a British monarch.
He tells Kathryn Ryan why he believes such a move would make the country a fully independent and sovereign nation.