Associate Prof Nathan Berg (left) speaks about the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership agreement at a University of Otago event yesterday, at which fellow panellists Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins and (partially obscured) Unions Otago convener Fiona Matapo also spoke. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

The controversial Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) could be ''the biggest threat to democracy and our sovereignty - ever'', a group of panellists warned yesterday.

An event at the University of Otago was framed as a discussion of alternatives to the TPP and featured commentary from three panellists - University of Otago economist Associate Prof Nathan Berg, Unions Otago convener Fiona Matapo, and Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins, who was there in a personal capacity.

''The alternative to the TPP is democracy,'' Mr Hawkins said.

''We already have that, and now, it's important that we fight to keep it.''

The terms of the TPP have been under negotiation between New Zealand and 11 other countries for several years.

The negotiating states have drawn harsh criticism for the strict confidentiality around the terms of the trade agreement and for the sections of it that have been leaked to the public.

Mr Hawkins argued the TPP was not a standard trade agreement because of its broad reach into local governance, such as copyright law.

''The TPP, fundamentally, is not about trade ... as much as it is about sovereignty.''

And because of that broad reach, Dr Berg said, the degree to which TPP negotiations were being kept secret was unacceptable.

''You can't negotiate behind closed doors without considering the key stakeholders.''

Those stakeholders were New Zealand citizens, he said.

''We have to say, `I am a stakeholder in the way deals are negotiated'.''

Mrs Matapo said, from a union perspective, she was concerned with the chapter of the TPP regarding labour, but that was not all.

Based on the portions of the agreement that had been leaked, it looked like the TPP would ''create greater inequality'', while tackling inequality should be New Zealand's ''No 1 priority'', she said.

Because she was also involved in education, Mrs Matapo said she was worried about what education might look like if New Zealand signed the TPP.

''There's a right for every child to have free and quality education fully funded by the Government,'' she said.

''Under the TPP, that's unlikely to be the case.''

Activist and social worker Jen Olsen, who chaired the discussion, said resistance to the TPP needed to focus on ''shifting the mindset of National Party supporters and voters''.

''We need to put it out to a wider audience that [the TPP] isn't good for New Zealand.''

She encouraged everyone at the event yesterday to march in a protest against the TPP today, which would begin at 1pm at the University of Otago's dental school.

She acknowledged the departure of the march this afternoon was just 30 minutes before that of a graduation parade, and said organisers were not made aware of the graduation until a couple of days ago.

The protest had cleared its route with the city council, but ''it never clicked'', she said.

''But I wouldn't like to accuse the DCC ... they've been really helpful to us.''

The two marches were not expected to conflict as long as the protest left on time.

Council staff could not be reached for comment last night.

A post on the protest's online page said the organisers were ''aware of the close timing and doing everything to make sure that both go ahead without disruption''.

''I am sorry that those taking part in the graduation parade will be unable to join us. We will march on your behalf and send our hearty congratulations to you all,'' it said.

carla.green@odt.co.nz