An informal meeting of Pacific Trade Ministers gets underway in Auckland this weekend and Fiji will not be represented at the meeting.
Radio New Zealand has quoted the NZ Trade Minister Tim Groser as saying that it is important planned discussions on the Pacific Islands Trade agreements go ahead despite the absence of Fiji.
Groser said the negotiations will probably take years and there are hopes that full relations with Fiji will eventually be restored, allowing it to be re-included in the Forum activities.
However, the NGO Arena, which is opposed to the Pacific's Closer Economic Relations Agreement, or PACER Plus, says without one of the main trading nations in the Pacific, talks are pointless and should be called off.
The NZ Trade Minister said eventually, while he does not see a way through now, they will find New Zealand, Australia and the other members of the Forum that have suspended Fiji, will find a way of re-establishing relationship in the long term.
Fiji will not be represented
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