Patent
New Zealand is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The deadline for entering the national phase via the PCT is 31 months. A simply signed power of attorney is required. A provisional application must be filed first. With the provisional application, the office starts its examination. While the examination is under way, the inventor prepares the description and claims. The application then passes examination and is published, remaining open for 3 months. If no opposition is filed during this period, the registration is completed. Patent protection lasts 20 years. Renewal fees must be paid at the beginning of the 4th, 7th, 10th and 13th years.