Many items in the collections of the National Library are protected by copyright, including manuscripts, oral histories, and photographs in the specialist collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library.
If you want to reproduce items from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library for public use, you also need to obtain permission from the Library and meet certain conditions (even if the item is out of copyright).
Ultimately you are responsible for clearing copyright and meeting any other requirements applying to an item.
What is copyright?
Copyright law is intended to protect works like photographs, oral history recordings, unpublished manuscripts, or published books from unauthorised copying. When you own copyright in a work, you have the right to allow the use of it in different ways.
The Ministry for Economic Development website provides general information about copyright law in New Zealand.
Information about copyright - Ministry for Economic Development (MED) website
Copyright Act 1994
New Zealand’s Copyright Act 1994 places certain limitations on:
- what can be copied
- how much may be copied
- what further use in publication or display may be made of the copies.
Material is protected for different periods of time according to format.
Copyright Act 1994 – New Zealand Legislation website
Other restrictions on copying items from the Library’s collections
Special conditions may apply when you request copies of items in the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, even if the items are out of copyright:
- Donated, gifted, or loaned items may have conditions on access and use that need to be respected.
- Privacy or cultural sensitivity restrictions may limit copying and usage.
- Very old or fragile items may have limits on copying to protect them from damage.
Copying from the National Library General Collections
You can copy from items in the National Library General Collections as long as you adhere to the copying provisions of the Copyright Act 1994.
The Library does not own copyright for the published material in the General Collections. If you want to copy items in copyright for reasons other than private research use or study, you need to seek and obtain permission from the copyright owner.
If in doubt, always assume that a work is in copyright and seek legal advice before reproducing it.
Reproducing items from the Alexander Turnbull Library collections
If you want to copy or reproduce items from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library for any purpose other than private research use or study, you need to:
- seek and receive permission from the Library
- obtain clearances on any donor or other restrictions (including copyright)
- pay any relevant fees
- acknowledge and cite the item correctly
- ensure the integrity of the item is maintained.
More information about reproducing items from the Alexander Turnbull Library collections can be found in the Reproduction/Copyright Factsheet.
Reproduction/Copyright Factsheet (PDF) – Timeframes website
Copyright for historical and unpublished items can be difficult and sometimes even impossible to determine. In these circumstances we will accept a letter in which you:
- accept responsibility for publishing an item for which you
haven’t been able to clear copyright
- outline the steps you have taken to determine and clear copyright.
Note this doesn’t give you legal indemnity.
Responsibility
Library staff are happy to discuss any copyright or reproduction matters with you but are not qualified to give a legal opinion. The Library will not accept responsibility for any decisions about copyright you make.
Related external information
Online copies of New Zealand
intellectual property legislation can be found on the New
Zealand Legislation website.
Copyright Act 1994 – New Zealand Legislation website
The Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) can help you find out who owns copyright in pieces of music if you want to perform, record, or copy a piece in copyright.
