The Pacific will be on display at a one-day trade show on Auckland's waterfront this weekend.
Delegates from around the Pacific who will be showcasing their products at this weekend's Pacific Trade Show in Auckland. Photo: Christine Rovoi
With the cancellation of Pasifika and the final day of Polyfest last month, organisers say Saturday's Path to the Pacific Trade Show may well be the only Pasifika event pre-Easter that incorporates business, entertainment, seminars and food.
Mateo Lautaimi, of the Tonga Farmers Co-operative. Photo: Christine Rovoi
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The Path to the Pacific will feature Fiji ginger that's making waves worldwide, organic jams and coconut soap from Fiji; rare gems and stunning handicrafts from the Solomon Islands and Pacific fashion, bilum weavers, coffee and baskets from Papua New Guinea.
There will also be jewellery, garments and tapa art in the show at The Cloud on Auckland's waterfront.
Other countries taking part in Saturday's show include the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The event is free and is hosted by New Zealand-based Pacific Trade Invest (PTI NZ), the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
"The trade show is part of PTI 's Path to Market programme - an export capability building initiative for Pacific Island companies to export into New Zealand, helping boost employment and entrepreneurship in the islands," said Michael Greenslade, the organisation's trade and investment commissioner.
Previous expos were held along with other Pacific events like the Pasifika Festival, he said.
"This year's event is different from our previous years in that it is a standalone event indoors with seminars, entertainment and food."
The show starts at 10am.