Pursuant to the requirements of the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EU FTA),
the New Zealand government has announced amendments to its Copyright Act 1994,
extending the copyright protection term from 50 years to 70 years after the author’s
death. The FTA entered into force on May 1, 2024, and the legal amendments must be fully
implemented by 2028.
This reform aligns New Zealand’s copyright standards with major economies including
the EU, U.S., and Japan. It grants creators of literary, artistic, musical, and audiovisual
works an additional 20 years of exclusive rights protection. The new rule applies to all
works still under copyright protection when the amendment takes effect, significantly
enhancing the long-term value and revenue stability of global copyright assets held in
New Zealand.
For rights holders, the extended term prolongs royalty, licensing, and monetization cycles.
For global brands and creators, this change strengthens the security and commercial value
of copyright portfolios strategically positioned in New Zealand.
