It is quite plausible that former Opposition leader David Shearer could be Foreign Minister at a time that New Zealand is sitting on the UN Security Council.
That's one possible reason for his agreement to help the Government campaign for the seat in New York next week. Another is that he knows first-hand how the power of the Security Council can affect people's lives.
Mr Shearer was working in Rwanda the last time New Zealand sat on the Security Council, trying to reunite thousands of children who had become separated from their parents in the midst of genocidal slaughter that claimed up to one million lives.
He remembers New Zealand leading the debate on what the international response should be.
"On the ground in Rwanda people recognised New Zealand's contribution and I was immensely proud to be on the business end of what was going on and having New Zealand saying the right things and standing up for the right things in New York."