That is the problem for such get-togethers. They are easily labelled "talkfests".
The Commonwealth itself is a strange beast in 2024. Most of its nations were part of the one-time British Empire. But even that changed when Mozambique joined in 1995 and Rwanda in 2009.
It comprises 2.5 billion people, 1.5 billion under the age of 30. To say it is diverse is an understatement.
With that diversity comes widely different interests and positions.
Chogm was able to agree to the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, the first oceans-focused declaration by the Commonwealth.
Climate change features prominently in the forum’s leaders’ statement and the Samoa communique. There are more than 30 climate change mentions, including three of the "climate crisis".
But although the forum backed support for Cop (United Nations Climate Change Conference) 31 in 2026 to be hosted jointly by the Pacific and Australia, there was no call from the conference to end fossil-fuel extraction. Vanuatu, Fiji and Tuvalu had tried at Chogm to launch the latest Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This aims at Australian coal and gas mining. Other Commonwealth nations also rely on extracting fossil fuels.
New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, again seemed to revel in face-to-face meetings, notably this time with King Charles III. Personal connections are, it should be said, a helpful ingredient of international meetings.
Other groups running as part of Chogm, like the Commonwealth Disabled Youth platform, also benefit from mutual encouragement and support among participants.
Samoa itself enhanced its reputation by its successful and warm hosting. The "very small rock in the middle of the ocean" received positive coverage.
Slavery reparations prompted comment and publicity. It was decided this would be a matter for Britain and Caribbean nations to advance rather than for Chogm. A separate forum on this is planned for early next year.
The issue also affects the Pacific. Reparative justice could come into play because of South Sea Islander "blackbirding". During the 19th century scores of thousands of indentured Pacific Islanders were brought to Australian cane fields, Fiji plantations and other places.
The Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance is welcome because media freedom is weak or seriously threatened in many parts of the Pacific and Commonwealth. The Commonwealth has a history of backing democratic norms even if its words have limited effects and there is no means of enforcement.
Mr Luxon emerged from Chogm talking an enthusiastic game about climate change. However, the actions and lack of action by the coalition government to mitigate New Zealand’s emissions undermine his words.
The wreck of the New Zealand Navy ship off Samoa, on the other side of the island to the conference, and the continuing threat of an environmental disaster is a poor look.
Mr Luxon made play of the $20 million being contributed to a Pacific climate resilience fund, money he and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters have spoken about since the last Pacific Islands Forum.
That is far better than nothing but hardly a huge amount.
While Chogm and the Commonwealth have a place in the international scene, the impact of both is underwhelming.
