The Trade and Foreign Ministers will fly to Colombia next week as part of efforts to get New Zealand into the Pacific Alliance.
Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee. Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
The four-nation bloc - made up of Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Peru - announced earlier in the year it would offer associate membership to some countries, paving the way for trade talks.
Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee wants New Zealand to be one of the first in line.
"The relationship could be the pre-cursor to formal trade negations with those countries, and becoming a part of the Pacific Alliance."
"Those combined GDPs come to some $3.5 trillion ... big opportunities there for New Zealand," he said.
