WELLINGTON, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- A group of protesters gathered in Auckland on Monday to voice opposition to a proposed trans- Pacific free trade agreement.

The protesters said the trade deal will strip New Zealand of its strategic assets and open it up to rampant foreign investment.

Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) - - a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand, the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam -- are being held in Auckland this week.

One protester, Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey, said American companies are pressuring negotiators to advance their own agenda.

She said the pharmaceutical company lobby wants to get rid of New Zealand's government drug funding agency Pharmac so they get higher royalties, which would mean this country's health dollar goes much less far.