Below you will find an indication of expected turnaround timeframes for applications and correspondence filed online.

All applications receive a receipt confirming the application number and filing date within minutes.

Patents

Applications

Patent examination pendency

Following the receipt of a request for examination, an application is allocated to an examiner for examination.

How long will I have to wait for my first examination report?

The expected period between the receipt of a request for examination and the issuance of the first examination report is set out below:

These estimates are updated every 3 months, and are current as of 19 October 2023.

Subsequent examination

Reports will be issued within 20 working days. This includes the issuance of any first or subsequent examination reports following a re-examination request.

Expedited examination under the GPPH

You can expect to receive a first examination report within 42 working days of acceptance of the GPPH request. Note that this may be subject to your application's examination eligibility date.

Correspondence

• Examination correspondence - 20 working days
• Customer Account Authorisation - 1 working day
• Notice of opposition - 2 working days
• Assignment - 15 working days
• Certificates of Commissioner - 1 working day
• Change of agent, name or address - 1 working day

Trade Marks

Applications

Search and/or Preliminary Advice requests

You can expect to receive a response to a request for search and/or preliminary advice within 5 working days.

Trade Mark applications

For national trade mark applications, you can expect to receive an initial response within 15 working days of filing your application.

For international registrations designating New Zealand (NZDs), you can expect to receive an initial response within 15 working days of IPONZ receiving your designation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Correspondence

• General examination correspondence - within 15 working days
• Evidence/Certification correspondence - up to 90 working days
• Customer Account Authorisation - 1 working day
• Assignment - 15 working days
• Extension of time requests - 15 working days
• Request to divide or merge trade mark cases - 15 working days
• Certificates of Commissioner - 1 working day
• Change of agent, name or address - 1 working day

Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee determinations

Trade mark applications containing (or which appear to be derived from) Māori text or imagery are referred to the Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee for their advice. Most applications referred to the Committee will receive a determination within 1 month.

Applications requiring further consideration are discussed during the closest Committee meeting, which occurs on a quarterly basis. 

Committee meeting dates are currently scheduled for:

• 8 November 2023

Designs

Applications

Initial design applications

You can expect to receive an initial response within 15 working days of filing your application.

Correspondence

• Examination correspondence - 15 working days
• Customer Account Authorisation - 1 working day
• Assignment - 15 working days
• Certificates of Commissioner - 1 working day
• Change of agent, name or address - 1 working day

Plant Variety Rights

Applications

You can expect to receive an initial acknowledgement within 5 working days of submitting your application.

Geographical indications (GIs)

Application

You can expect a receipt of application within 1 working day.

Examination

You can expect to receive an examination report within 3 months of filing your application and evidence.

Registration

IPONZ will register the geographical indication not less than 6 months after the application filing date.

Correspondence

All correspondence will be within 15 working days.

Proceedings

Correspondence

Notices of opposition
2 working days

All proceedings correspondence excluding Notices of opposition
15 working days

Hearing Decisions

Issued
60 working days from the hearing date