New Zealand and foreign GIs for wine or spirits
You can apply to register a geographical indication (GI) relating to a wine or spirit in New Zealand, regardless of whether that GI originates in New Zealand or overseas. These applications will follow the examination process below.
1. Application filed
Your application to register a New Zealand or foreign geographical indication (GI) must meet the legal requirements for the applicable GI type.
Guide to applying for a geographical indication
Note: Once we’ve received your application, it will be entered into our GI register. All correspondence will be via email.
2. First examination
We’ll examine your GI application within 3 months of filing, to make sure it complies with all the requirements of the Geographical Indications Registration Act 2006.
If we consider your application meets the legal requirements, we will issue you with a notice of acceptance.
If your application does not meet the legal requirements, or if we find other concerns with your application, we’ll email you a compliance report. This compliance report will explain:
- how the application doesn’t comply with the Act and/or Regulations, and
- the amount of time you have to file a response (this will be at least 6 months).
Respond to a compliance report
Once your response is received, your application will be re-examined.
Note: If you need more time to respond, you can contact us before your deadline to ask for an extension of time.
If your application still does not meet the legal requirements even after subsequent responses and examinations, we’ll send you a final rejection notice. This may take up to 6 months to issue.
You can request a hearing in response to a decision to refuse an application to register a New Zealand or foreign GI.
Geographical Indications hearings
3. Acceptance
If we accept your application to register a New Zealand or foreign GI, we will send you a notice of acceptance. We will also advertise the acceptance of your GI in our monthly Journal publication.
Within 3 months of the advertised acceptance, any interested person may oppose the application for registration of the GI. The opponent can ask for an extension of time (up to a maximum of 1 month) to prepare their opposition.
Geographical Indications hearings
4. Registration
If your application has been accepted and no opposition is raised, we’ll register your GI not less than 6 months after the application filing date.
What happens next?
The registration of a New Zealand or foreign GI is effective for 5 years from the deemed date of registration. After the first 5 years, the GI can be renewed for further periods of 10 years.
You can request a renewal up to 12 months in advance. If a GI isn't renewed by the due date, the registration will expire.
European Union GIs
Under the terms of the New Zealand - European Union Free Trade Agreement (EU FTA), the European Union may propose new GIs for registration in New Zealand, or change an existing GI that is protected in New Zealand under the EU FTA. These GIs are not limited to wines or spirits.
European Union GI requests will follow a different examination and opposition process at IPONZ, which will be finalised as soon as possible.