Copyright terms and the public domain guide — Why 1 January matters

Posted on 08 January 2026 by Kelly

We've updated our ‘Copyright terms and the Public Domain in New Zealand guide’ for 2026.

Copyright protection in New Zealand isn’t indefinite — it has a time limit that depends on the type of work and when it was created, published, performed, or, in the case of product designs, commercialised.

Each category of copyright work — such as books, music, films, or artistic designs — has its own duration of protection. This period is calculated from a specific point in the life of the work or its creator.

That’s why 1 January is important: copyright terms typically expire at the end of a calendar year. That means on 1 January, many works enter the public domain, becoming free for anyone to share and use. It’s the day when creativity gets a fresh wave of resources, opening up opportunities for innovation and cultural enrichment.

DigitalNZ developed this guide as a tool to help users work out the copyright status of collection items.

View the Copyright terms and the Public Domain in New Zealand for 2026.

Disclaimer: The contents of the guide do not constitute legal advice and DigitalNZ is not responsible for any loss or damage caused as a result of following it. For simplicity this guide may contain generalisations and you should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional about specific issues.

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