Oxfam New Zealand said Fiji must be part of regional talks in some form, regardless of its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.

The comments come ahead of informal talks between regional Trade Ministers this weekend for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, or PACER, a proposed trade deal with Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Fiji has been left out of the talks following its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.

But Oxfam New Zealand Executive Director Barry Coates told the ABC that the big economies of the region must be part of the negotiations despite political differences.

He also said in some way Fiji has to be involved because this negotiation is about the Pacific region and Fiji is such an integral part of trade patterns in the Pacific that there can be no negotiations that don't effect Fiji and which Fiji will effect.