The head of NGO Oxfam New Zealand believes Pacific leaders' statements on civil society are encouraging.
While civil society organisations were sidelined from this year's Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit, the final communiqué from the meeting noted that engagement with those groups is vital.
Oxfam's Barry Coates says that gives an opportunity for a new relationship to start.
"It's encouraging also that obviously they are talking about it being a high level dialogue and not something that gets buried in officials committee. So we do have to work through the officials committees and that's the way to shape the agenda."
Barry Coates says he believes there is a determination to continue the dialogue.
