After years of tense negotiations and vocal protests, the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal will be signed.

Ministers from the 12 member countries – including Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb – have descended on Auckland for the official signing ceremony on Thursday (AEDT), which marked another step towards the world’s largest free trade pact becoming a reality.

Security will be tight around the SkyCity Convention Centre where the signing will take place, as thousands of protesters were expected to take to the streets to voice their opposition to the deal.

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Mr Robb said the new Pacific trade deal would offer enormous prospects for jobs and economic growth, and eliminate 98 per cent of tariffs in the region.

Protestors fear rising costs to consumers and lost revenue to struggling countries. Photo: Getty

Elements of the deal will also require the green light from parliament.

But, Labor held concerns about investor-state dispute settlement provisions, which allowed foreign investors to sue the government if their profits were affected by any Australian law or policy.

As do organisers for protest group Real Choice who said they intended to disrupt entry to the centre and nearby roads – although they had called for non-violent action only.

They’ve warned those intending to participate at the 9am blockade that there is a “high risk of arrest”.

Meanwhile, a peaceful march of thousands was expected to move down Queen Street at noon, but they would not go to the convention centre.

“We’ve invited concerned Kiwis to join us in a loud, colourful, non-violent, family-friendly march to make it clear that this government does not have a mandate to sign the TPP in our names,” organiser Barry Coates said.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said security had been stepped up to keep representatives safe.

The TPP was finalised in October after five years of negotiations, with Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam all parties to the agreement.

The US kicked off negotiations to join the deal in 2008, prompting the other Pacific countries to join in.

These countries have a combined population of more than 800 million and account for more than a third of the global economy.

Once the TPP has been signed, it will still need to be ratified by each of the member countries.

It is anticipated it will come into effect two years after signing.