5.2 Geographical locations

⁵The Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee has advised the Commissioner that where a Māori word in a trade mark is a geographical location in New Zealand, it does not consider such geographical locations to be offensive for a wide range of goods and services.

As a result, the Commissioner will not send marks incorporating geographical locations to the Committee, unless the mark contains:

• Any matter the Commissioner considers might be offensive or ambiguous in relation to particular goods and services;
• An Atua or Tupuna name/image;
• An association with wahi tapu - a place sacred to Māori in the traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual, or mythological sense;
• A word that that may be regarded by whānau/hapū/iwi as having mana; or
• Other Māori text and/or imagery.

Footnote

⁵ Practice Guideline Amendment 2005/04, Information For Clients, May 2005.