The following can be grounds for opposition:

• proprietary rights
• breach of copyright
• notorious or well-known mark
• the mark is descriptive
• the mark is misleading, deceptive or disparaging
• registered design rights
• the mark is not distinctive
• registration in the name of the agent or other representative of the proprietor of the mark
• the mark is generic
• rights in a personal name
• unauthorized use of protected emblems or national insignia
• prior reputation in New Zealand for the trademark or business/company name
• the use or registration of the mark is offensive to a significant section of the community including Māori people