New Zealand is missing out on lucrative trade deals in the "American Pacific" according to the New Zealand-Pacific Business Council.
Gilbert Ullrich, council chairman, said New Zealand businesses were not taking enough advantage of the markets in places like Hawaii and Guam.
American Samoa and theFederated States of Micronesia were also markets that could be better tapped into, Mr Ullrich said, adding that Australia had, by comparison, done very well in such markets.
"The increased dialogue and expansion of business between our country and the Pacific area can only lead to greater opportunities into the US," he said.
Mr Ullrich made the comments ahead of a Pacific Futures conference in Auckland next week.
