One of the great challenges over the history of these islands has been our position on the globe. We are literally surrounded by the largest moat in the world, and for much of our nation's history, that has been an impediment. It's been something that has been a hindrance to the growth and prosperity and ability of New Zealand producers and exporters to get product to market. Similarly, for those that want to import product, there are only two ways of getting things and people to and from these islands, and that is either by air or by sea. So our shipping networks are incredibly important. They always have been, right from the very early days of European settlement here in New Zealand. But, of course, our tradition comes from the first people here. The tangata whenua arrived by sea, navigating—as they did—vast ocean tracts. 