Transcript
The Path to the Pacific features 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.
Rhona Conn, of Milne Bay Organics in PNG, says while most of their products are hand-made by the women in the villages, they also focus on partnerships with young people in the communities.
"As the generation that is part of the transition between the older sort of grassroots way of living and the new urban, modern way of living. We are that generation that's sort of bridged the two together. My husband and I and the family, the tribe, have decided that is where our focus should be."
Rhona Conn says they train the youths to understand the value of production processes then they can go out into the rural communities and teach their skills to other young people like themselves.
Other countries taking part in the show include the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
First-timer Mateo Lautaimi, of the Tonga Farmers Co-operative, says they represent 40 percent of the island kingdom's watermelon, buttercup and squash growers.
He says they had a very tough year last year because of the cyclone but says they have regrouped and are looking forward to showcasing their products this weekend.
"Decades ago, we have been growing for exporters and we face many problems. We want to lift up our livelihoods our families and our economics and there's no better way of doing this. That's one of the reason we as growers we want to just do that for ourselves."
The free event is hosted by New Zealand-based Pacific Trade Invest, the economic development agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Michael Greenslade, the organisation's trade and investment commissioner, says the trade show is part of its Path to Market programme - an export capability building initiative for Pacific Island companies to export into NZ, helping boost employment and businesses in the islands.
"Cameron Bagerie, economic analyst, does a survey with us on business confidence in the Pacific. And he's going to be talking about his latest results and what the economic environment is in the Pacific."
Michael Greenslade says previous expos were held alongisde other Pacific events like the Pasifika Festival.
