Some exhibitors at the Pacific Trade Show in Auckland were left disappointed after their products were held by New Zealand's biosecurity service because they did not have the relevant paperwork.
The exhibitors are now calling for better co-ordination from the show's organisers.
A first time exhibitor from Papua New Guinea, Isaac Abaijah, said it was unfortunate the hard work of women from his country's villages could not be showcased.
Isaac Abaijah, left, and Jean Callister, both of PNG. Photo: Christine Rovoi
"We get the women from the districts to come up with their products. We try to showcase their products at this event," Mr Abaijah said.
"However, due to customs requirements, our cargo is unable to be released."
Not knowing the full requirements of New Zealand's import laws had cost him dearly, Mr Abaijah, from Egwalau Tours & Events in Milne Bay, said.
Another of the company's exhibitors, Jean Callister, said customs processes between the two countries were out of sync.
"We can't really say anything or do anything because customs and immigration on our side are very different," Ms Callister said.
"We followed our whole process - we saw it through. Those are things that need to be ironed out - that we must be cautioned with - before we come to another country," she said.
"If you are coming to PNG and those issues are not treated, you would be in the same shoes as us."
Mateo Lautaimi, of the Tonga Farmers Co-operative. Photo: Christine Rovoi
Another first-timer, Mateo Lautaimi from the Tonga Farmers Co-operative, said he arrived in Auckland last Thursday evening without his produce.
Mr Lautaimi said he was shocked when he arrived at the airport in Tonga and was advised by officials that it would not be wise for him to bring his cargo of watermelons to Auckland on the plane.
"They stopped me at the airport in Tonga and told me it was very risky, that NZ is very concerned about the fruit fly and all watermelons that come from Tonga have to be fumigated," he said.
"They haven't done it for any watermelon that is brought over on the planes. That's why they stopped my cargo saying it's too risky. I would suffer huge losses if the watermelons are confiscated at Auckland airport."
The exhibitor said he apologised to the people who visited his stall that did not get to see the watermelons.
Saturday's event was hosted by the New Zealand-based Pacific Trade Invest (PTI NZ), the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The organisation's trade and investment commissioner, Michael Greenslade, said it was dealing with about four companies who had not followed the process that they needed to.
"The difficulty that some people have is when they bring a product into NZ that is not allowed in," Mr Greenslade said.
Pacific Trade Show organiser Michael Greenslade. Photo: Christine Rovoi
"If they have tried to bring in products that are not allowed in - the stuff will be stopped at the border," he said.
"We work with all of these companies about following the due process. Some people don't. And it's the nature of the beast. We just have to respond to what we know."
The trade show is part of PTI NZ's Path to Market programme, an export capability building initiative for Pacific Island companies hoping to export to New Zealand, which aims to boost employment and entrepreneurship in the islands.
It would work with exhibitors to ensure they had the relevant paperwork for future events, Mr Greenslade added.
Ms Callister and Mr Abaijah said their products were sent with courier company DHL and that they believed they would be able to collect their items when they arrived in NZ last week.
"Our products got in on Sunday (31 March) and we thought that was enough time," Mr Abaijah said.
"But MPI (Ministry of Primary Industries) told us it will take 14 days for our products to be cleared," he said.
"The trade show is on April 7. We were hoping they (MPI) would understand that the products are for an exhibition and would work quickly to release our items."
An MPI official said the requirements were clear and were available on its website.
The official said people who wanted to bring products to NZ must first ensure they have gone through all the relevant processes and have the correct paperwork to avoid any disappointment.
