The identity of 18 New Zealand wine regions can now be better protected thanks to the New Zealand Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act.
“The Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act is a significant advance for the New Zealand wine industry,” said New Zealand Winegrowers Acting CEO, Jeffrey Clarke. “Our ‘Geographical Indications’ (GIs) – the names and places where our wines come from – are at the very heart of the New Zealand wine story and this new law provides an additional level of protection for them.”
The Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act formally recognises the collective intellectual property of a wine region by allowing for registration of the region’s name as a GI. This ensures that the name is reserved only for wine from that region. Importantly, registration will also give the region’s winegrowers a greater ability to protect those GI names from misuse overseas.
“ The registration of these GIs will provide a solid platform for New Zealand wine producers to promote our wines and regions in international markets and ensure investment in our regional identities are better protected.”
The GIs for which applications have been filed are:
- Northland
- Auckland
- Matakana
- Kumeu
- Waiheke Island
- Gisborne
- Hawke’s Bay
- Central Hawke’s Bay
- Wairarapa
- Gladstone
- Martinborough
- Nelson
- Marlborough
- Canterbury
- North Canterbury
- Waipara Valley
- Waitaki Valley North Otago
- Central Otago
More detail on the registration process can be found at: www.iponz.govt.nz/about-ip/geographicalindications/examination-process/
