International charity Oxfam has criticised Air New Zealand for pressuring small Pacific nations to pay more for its flight services to the United States.

The airline wants the Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands governments to help make its North American routes more profitable by paying higher subsidies.

The New Zealand government has a 75 per cent share in Air New Zealand and Oxfam director Barry Coates, says the request goes against the government's claim that it wants to support economic development in the Pacific.