New Zealand's Position
New Zealand strongly supports the work of the IGC. A New Zealand delegation has attended all sessions of the IGC and a number of Māori groups are accredited observers. New Zealand shares, along with many other member states, the determination to stop and prevent the misappropriation and misuse of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, and to address the international dimension of these issues. The New Zealand delegation has also stressed the need to retain flexibility to develop solutions and mechanisms appropriate to the unique characteristics, circumstances and needs of different countries, regions, indigenous peoples and local communities.
The IGC process has been very useful in elucidating the international dimension of the issues relating to intellectual property and the protection of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, including the development of practical tools and sharing of national experiences.
The renewal of the IGC's mandate for another two years, with a clearly defined work programme, is a good outcome for New Zealand as it puts the IGC on a path towards achieving substantive protection of GRs, TK, and TCEs. The agreed work programme provides an opportunity for domestic engagement with Māori and stakeholders as a text for a legal instrument is developed. We can therefore expect that the work on the IGC will intensify and become more focussed in the coming years.
Korero Mai
Officials would appreciate hearing from you about the work of the WIPO IGC.
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