Māori Plant Varieties Committee

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Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

Māori Plant Varieties Committee

The role of the Māori Plant Varieties Committee is to help protect kaitiaki relationships with certain plant species.

Updated 20 December 2024

The Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 contains a number of provisions that are intended to protect kaitiaki relationships with certain plant species. This includes the establishment of a Māori Plant Varieties Committee.

Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 – New Zealand Legislation

Functions of the Māori Plant Varieties Committee

The role of the Māori Plant Varieties Committee is to assess whether the grant of a PVR will have adverse effects on one or more kaitiaki relationships with the plant variety that is the subject of the PVR application. As such, the Committee reviews applications referred by the PVR Office, makes determinations regarding relevant kaitiaki relationships, and provides these determinations and any advice to the PVR Office.

The Māori Plant Varieties Committee also assesses certain Māori elements in PVR applications, such as situations where the use or approval of a proposed denomination may be offensive to Māori. The PVR Office may also seek the Committee’s advice on other matters relevant to the criteria for granting a PVR.

The Committee is also expected to develop and publicly notify its requirements on the making and hearing of submissions. The Committee is responsible for issuing engagement guidelines, providing advice to PVR applicants and kaitiaki, and may also conduct investigations to carry out its functions where appropriate.

Members of the Māori Plant Varieties Committee are appointed for terms of up to 4 years, and are required to review applicable PVR applications on an ongoing basis. Members will also spend time developing committee guidelines and attending committee meetings and hearings. Members may be required to travel to other locations to conduct engagements.

Māori Plant Varieties Committee members

Aroha Mead, Dale Stephens, and Graeme Atkins have been confirmed as the inaugural members of the Māori Plant Varieties Committee.

The Committee is expected to hold its first meeting in early 2025, to begin its important mahi and develop its operating approach. More details of the Committee members will be published in time.

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