IP/C/W/647/Add.5  
 
28 November  2018 
(18-7494) Page: 1/3 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATIO N ACTIVITIES : 
INFORMATION FROM MEM BERS  
NEW  ZEALAND  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 7 November 2018 , is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of New Zealand.  
 
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1  THE INTELLECTUAL PRO PERTY OFFICE OF  NEW ZEALAND  
1.  The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) provides on going technical assistance 
on request to developing and least developed countries. New Zealand will continue to support future 
work, on request, to improve the intellectual pro perty systems of developing countries.  
2.  IPONZ is recogni zed for its efficient and effective online services, high quality examination and 
registration processes. As a result, IPONZ hosts delegations and study visits from developing and 
least developed count ries to provide practical training and knowledge sharing.  
3.  This year , IPONZ hosted a delegate from the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour 
with an interest in building capability and knowledge about online systems. IPONZ provided 
information an d training on its online case m anagement system and registers.  
2  THE PLANT VARIETY RI GHTS OFFICE  
4.  New Zealand has been a M ember of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties 
of Plants (UPOV) since 1981. New Zealand, through the Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Office, actively 
participates in the UPOV Council, Administration and Legal Committee, the Technical Committee and 
in some of the Technical Working Parties.  
5.  An IPONZ representative from the Plant Variety Rights Office delivered a series of le ctures on 
Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Testing as part of a training programme for 
developing countries organised by the Korean International Cooperation Agency  (KOICA)  and the 
Korean Seeds Variety Services  (KSVS) . Participating students  were from Peru, Guatemala, the 
Republic of Moldova, Philippines, Ghana and Sudan.  
6.  The PVR team hosted a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Forestry and exchanged 
technical experience for the variety testing of forest tree and other ornamental plant s pecies. 
The PVR team also hosted a staff member from Naktuinbouw (Dutch Variety Testing Organisation) 
and shared information for variety testing of ornamental and fruit species.  
7.  On two separate occasions , an IPONZ representative was a tutor for sessions of  the UPOV 
distance learning programme with students from East and South East Asian S tates.  
_______________  IP/C/W/647/Add.5  
 
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  ANNEX1 
TABLE OF SPECIFIC AC TIVITIES BY NEW ZEALAND  
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JUL Y 201 7 TO 30 JUNE 201 8 
Category  Date  Location  Activity  
Information exchange 
and technical advice  July 2017  Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ hosted a representative from the 
Samoan Ministry of Commerce, 
Industry and Labour. This was part of a 
broader programme run by MFAT and 
Business Registries.  
Information exchange  July 2017   IPONZ  National Manager attended an 
ASEAN -Australia -NZ Free Trade 
Agreement meeting with Business Law.  
Information exchange 
and technical advice  August 2017  Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ hosted Tasi Seuao, a Labour 
Inspector from the Samoan Ministry of 
Commerce, Industry and Labour.  
Information exchange 
and technical advice  August 2017  Video conference  IPONZ showcased our examination 
process and system to the Israel IP 
Office.  
Practical training and 
information exchange  October 
2017 Distance learning  An IPONZ representative tutored the 
UPOV distance learning courses with 
students from east and south -east Asia. 
Information exchange 
and technical advice  October 
2017 Japan  A Princ ipal Tradem ark Examiner 
presented on NZ 's experience 
implementing the Madrid Protocol at the 
Regional Meeting of Intellectual 
Property Office Officials Responsible for 
the Madrid System in Tokyo.  
Information exchange  October 
2017 Wellington, New 
Zealand  The IPONZ Stakeholder Engagement 
team hosted an overseas delegation 
from Nanjing, China.  
Information exchange  November 
2017 South Korea  Simon Gallagher presented at the 
WIPO -KIPO Joint International 
Conference on the Madrid System in 
Seoul South Korea in  November.  
Practical training, 
technical advice and 
information exchange  December 
2017 Christchurch, New 
Zealand  The PVR team at IPONZ hosted a 
delegation from the Chinese Academy 
of Forestry in Christchurch.  
Information exchange  December 
2017 Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ hosted a delegation including the 
Commissioner of the China State 
Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).  
Technical advice and 
information exchange  January 
2018 Christchurch, New 
Zealand  The PVR team at IPONZ hosted a staff 
member of Naktuinbouw (Dutch Variety 
Testing  Organisation) in Christchurch.  
                                                
1 In English only.  IP/C/W/647/Add.5  
 
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  Category  Date  Location  Activity  
Information exchange 
and technical advice  February 
2018 Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ and MFAT met with Senior 
Advisor to the French Polynesia n Vice 
President and Minister of Finance and 
Economy. We discussed the IP rights 
system in New Zealand and IP chapter 
negotiations and areas where we may 
need technical assistance.  
Practical training and 
information exchange  March 2018  Distance learning  An IPONZ representative tutored the 
UPOV distance learning courses with 
students from east and south -east Asia. 
Information exchange 
and technical advice  May 2018  
 Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ met with the Coordinator of 
Quality from INPI Brazil to discuss how 
IPONZ developed and manages its 
quality system, audit processes and 
continuous improvement culture.  
Practical training and 
information exchange  May 2018  Gimcheon, South 
Korea  An IPONZ representative delivered a 
lecture series on for the annual Plant 
Variety Protection Training Programme 
for developing countries organised by 
the Korean International  Cooperation 
Agency and Korea Seed and Variety 
Service.  
Information exchange 
and technical advice  June 2018  Wellington, New 
Zealand  IPONZ hosted Peter Button, 
Vice-Secretary General of the 
International Union for the Protection of 
New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). 
Mr Button met with IPONZ and Policy 
staff and discussed the review of the 
PVR Act. He also met with industry 
representatives to discuss current 
issues and UPOV 91.  
 
 
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