Finn sings fair-trade tune to departing WTO minister

Musician Neil Finn gives Trade Minister Jim Sutton an Oxfam-supported certificate at Auckland Airport yesterday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Musician Neil Finn added his own tune to the "Make Trade Fair" chorus at Auckland Airport yesterday.

Finn intercepted Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton and handed him a Big Noise certificate as the minister was heading to Hong Kong for the World Trade Organisation meeting.

The Big Noise campaign, supported by international aid agency Oxfam, calls for changes to global trade rules to help people in developing countries out of poverty.

"I feel honoured to act as a voice on behalf of more than 10 million people who have signed the Big Noise petition to Make Trade Fair," Finn said.

"We offer this as a counter to the corporate voices of opportunism - this is a mandate to Mr Sutton and all WTO delegates to make trade rules work for the poor."

The Big Noise is being presented to country representatives worldwide who are en route to the WTO meeting.