The second Pacific Trade Expo is underway in New Zealand to promote two way trade in the region.
Fourteen Pacific countries are represented at the expo in West Auckland, to offer everything from coffee and crafts to black pearls and building products.
The Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele says the expo offers an opportunity for Pacific exporters to understand the regulations.
"The holding of seminars and workshops this week on bio-security and food safety requirements so that our Pacific exporters can comply with the entry requirements of the new zealand markets ."
The Cook Islands deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maote says standards are high.
These are tough measures that have been imposed on PI's before we send goods to here. And when growers see that tough measure, they just give up doing anything about it. So this thing about narrowing the gap to me, has been a dream.
Sir Terepai Maote.
