Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTINZ) Special Projects Lead Makalesi Raibe (left) with Trade Commissioner Glynis Miller at Pasifika Festival 2025.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTINZ) Trade Commissioner Glynis Miller says there is an untapped source of Pacific products in the region, and her organisation is helping businesses break into the competitive Aotearoa New Zealand market.
For the past 40 years, PTINZ, an agency of the Pacific Islands Forum supported by the New Zealand Government, has been championing Pacific businesses and assisting them in getting their products discovered.
Seeing Pasifika Festival in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland as an ideal platform to showcase Pacific products, PTINZ joined the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Pacific Connections team at its pavilion and displayed a selection of tropical treats available in Aotearoa.
Hailing from Fiji, Glynis has been in her role as Trade Commissioner for five years.
She says PTINZ’s trade work in the region is to grow the ability of Pacific businesses to get product into New Zealand, whether it is manufactured goods, fresh or frozen produce.
“On the investment front, our work involves connecting New Zealand investors or companies in New Zealand who want to invest in the Pacific, as well as investors from abroad,” Glynis says.
Pacific exporters face many challenges, including a consistency of supply and quality competing in the New Zealand market, Glynis adds.
“New Zealand is a very competitive market, and part of our job is to bring awareness of the market difficulties and the challenges of entering the market to put those in front of the Pacific exporters.”
Recently, labour mobility and a skills shortage is affecting the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, which are in-turn, influencing trade.
“Those exporters who have ability to export to New Zealand, they do that through a lot of hard work and commitment…it is also about educating, making or creating awareness in New Zealand of what it is the Pacific has to offer.”
One such offering is Niue Honey, which was on display at Pasifika Festival, along with other products, many people are unaware of, Glynis adds.
“We are using Pasifika Festival to promote these products and showcase what it is the Pacific can do and has been doing now with PTINZ, working closely with the MFAT Pacific Connections team, led by Director Felicity Bollen.
“This collaboration has been of enormous benefit to us…it’s a really good fit.
“PTINZ and MFAT have a strong relationship…if it wasn’t for Pacific Connections, PTINZ wouldn’t be able to be here at the show.”
Visit the Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand website for more information and follow MFAT Pacific Connections on Facebook.
