Hillary Clinton's visit almost put us on the world stage for a second or two. It raises the question about our place in the world and why another other country should bother to notice us

Relevance. It's at the heart of foreign affairs in a small country such as New Zealand. Much of our daily diplomacy revolves around making a small Pacific nation – what it sells and what it believes in – matter to the rest of the world.

The now postponed visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton excited some New Zealanders (alright, maybe just the foreign policy wonks) because it was a sign we had some relevance to the world's superpower. It raised questions of just where we fit in the world, why we might matter on the world stage, and to whom.

In other words, questions of relevance, and that matters because it gets us listened to, draws investment and talent, and makes us a dynamic, engaged society. Without it, we shrivel. And the fact is that in the age of globalisation with no dominant empire, secondary powers are growing rapidly and we risk getting overlooked.

Of course four million souls at the bottom of the world can't expect to be at the centre of world affairs. Yet since Europeans started sailing here in the mid-1800s we've always, as is often said, boxed above our weight.

At first we were a part of the great, rapid Anglo settler boom (as James Belich has described it) otherwise known as colonisation, which saw the greatest ever movement of humanity. We became both an experiment in enlightened colonialism and an example of colonial oppression.

We played a leading role in feeding the greatest empire of the day, then fought and died in disproportionate numbers in the major wars of the 20th century. We helped found the United Nations, contributed to significant scientific and sporting achievements and have been a rare example of stable, democratic government outside Europe and North America.

For all those reasons, and more, New Zealand has had a notable presence, largely defined by its relationships with larger countries – Britain's farm, America's allies, and at times, especially under the previous government, China's western (free trade) friend...

The Clark administration also tried to use potential carbon neutrality as an international booster, but the policy never matched the rhetoric (although if Labour hadn't been out-manoeuvred by National and the farmers lobby on the carbon tax, it may have had more credence). It was better at developing our reputation as an honest broker, a Norway of the south, through our role on many international bodies. We've got some way to go yet – and it hasn't been helped by National pulling us from our effort to join the UN Human Rights Council – but it's a path worth exploring.

So what of this government? It's declared it doesn't want to lead on climate change issues, so how do we now come to matter to the rest of the world, especially the larger powers?

John Key's first bi-lateral meeting abroad as PM was in China, a signal of its importance to this country. But since, things have gone quiet. The World Expo in Shanghai this year will give us another chance to showcase ourselves over there, and hopefully the Prime Minister's visit will help deepen the relationship so that, from a trade point of view at least, the competitive advantage we gained from being the first western nation with a free trade deal with China isn't wasted.

Our increased importance to America, reflected in Clinton's intended visit, is only partly due to us, however. We have won back some American love by sending the SAS to Afghanistan, but after the isolationist, aggravating George W. Bush years, America itself has realised the importance of maintaining friendships with like-minded countries, and is working harder at them. The Obama administration's efforts to not take friends for granted was a major reason for her trip.

Clinton's decision to abandon her visit to the Pacific exposes the stark diplomatic truth that geography still matters; neighbouring countries matter more than distant ones. But it's also personal, given her husband Bill's position as UN special envoy to Haiti and their close ties to the island, from the fundraising efforts of the Clinton Foundation to the fact the couple spent their honeymoon there.

So there's no need to feel slighted by Clinton's decision to reschedule, yet it's worth pondering that the only reason we can be certain she will find time for a visit down here sometime soon is that her itinerary also included a trip to Australia, and she needs to make that trip.

Our relevance is a tenuous thing.

Coming back to the question of why we might matter, the current government's main answer in its first year has been the Global Alliance Fund to research agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. It's smart for several reasons.

One, it looks like we're leading on climate change (contrary to government policy) and so bolsters our clean, green brand; indeed, it was one of the few positives to come out of Copenhagen. Two, ag science is one of the things in which we're already a genuine world leader, so it plays to our strengths. Three, it has the potential to inject venture capital into the economy. Four, it may actually come up with something significant.

It's interesting to note that, beyond the perrenials of trade and terror,  and the inevitable talk about Afghanistan given our involvement there, Key intended to talk with Clinton about climate change and whaling. It seems that environmental issues remain at the heart of what keeps us relevant these days, whether we like it or not.

There's another issue that could help us develop our global presence. I'll write about that tomorrow.