French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru has suggested launching a Pacific Passport to open up travel in the region.
Temaru is in New Zealand with a large delegation on his first visit and wants to address the trade imbalance between the two countries.
He says the Pacific Passport would be modelled on the European Union passport, which gives members free access in the EU.
The idea has received a guarded reception, with fears it would only accelerate shrinking populations across the region.
"I think though that a lot of people in the Pacific countries might look at immigrating to New Zealand in pretty large numbers," says Gilbert Ullrich of the New Zealand Pacific Business Council.
Temaru says he will discuss the idea with leaders at the Pacific Forum meeting in Papua New Guinea later this year.
