Law & IP in New Zealand

New Zealand, established as a colony of Britain, has been influenced by its ties with that country. This is reflected in both the culture and the legal system, though from the 1970s greater Asian and Pacific rim influence resulting from trade and communications has seen New Zealand and Britain slowly progress in different directions.

New Zealand's trade was traditionally based on the agricultural and horticultural sectors, particularly the export of dairy products, meat, and wool to England and Europe. Dairy, meat, and forestry remain among the major exports though New Zealand has developed a reputation for high-tech and specialist expertise within a number of areas including electronics, engineering, boat-building, the film industry, sciences relating to plants and animals - to name but a few. The ability to identify and capitalise on niche (particularly high-tech) markets represents a small but significant and growing export industry. Trade partners for both goods and technology are predominantly Australia, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific-rim countries. Trade agreements with Australia have dropped barriers and tariffs for most goods between the two countries.

The primary language of New Zealand is English, with Maori being a recognised second official language. Most Court proceedings, and intellectual property filings, are conducted in English, as are most day to day transactions. The Maori, as the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand, have had their rights increasingly recognised under revisions and redrafts of legislation. Indigenous rights issues have been and are an important consideration of revisions of the Patents and Trade Marks Acts.

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