3 Jul 2012

Pacific trade benefits extolled

8:27 pm on 3 July 2012

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says a trade delegation he is leading to the Pacific will generate up to $20 million per year in new business for the city.

The group of 20 from the food and beverage, infrastructure and education sectors in Auckland leaves on Tuesday for Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Mr Brown says Auckland already contributes about half of the $300 million New Zealand exports there each year.

He says the 10-day trip is expected to boost that by up to $20 million per year.

The trade mission also aims to open Auckland's doors to more of the islands' agricultural products.