EU-style passport mooted

French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru has suggested launching a "Pacific passport" to open up travel in the region.

The President, a strong advocate of independence for French Polynesia from France, said the Pacific passport could be modelled on the European Union passport, which gives holders free access to EU member nations.

But New Zealand and Australian officials have previously expressed concern that a common passport could damage their border security, the ABC reports.

The idea has also received a guarded reception from some New Zealand business sectors, with suggestions that it would only accelerate shrinking populations across the region.

Waikato University demographer Professor Ian Pool said a recent study of age pyramids provided by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in Noumea showed three Pacific countries, Niue, Tokelau and the Cook Islands, had very unstable populations.

President Temaru said he would discuss the Pacific passport idea with leaders at this year's Pacific Forum meeting in Papua New Guinea.

The President was welcomed at Auckland Airport on Sunday by Prime Minister Helen Clark for his first official visit.

The visit comes only a few days after his counterpart from New Caledonia, President Marie-Noelle Themereau, also made her first official trip to NZ.

- NZPA