“People will look at it and believe, or might believe, that Metallica has authorised this or supports her. If she hasn’t approached Metallica, then that’s potentially misleading”, Gray told NZME.
Tamatha Paul has pulled Metallica inspired merchandise after copyright questions were asked.
After Newstalk ZB contacted the Green Party to raise questions about permission to use Metallica’s logo, the shirt was quickly removed from her campaign website as well as social media, before a response had been given.
After Newstalk ZB tried again to get comment about the shirt and its recent removal from the site, a Green Party spokeswoman said Paul had “local artists contributing to her campaign and work in Parliament” and that the shirt was designed and “inspired by heavy metal”.
“[It] was not intended to cause confusion with, or profit from Metallica trademarked content,” the spokeswoman said.
“The t-shirt has been removed to avoid confusion.”
Gray was concerned there could be copyright infringements involved.
“Metallica has a trademark registration for that stylised Metallica logo which they’re well known for, and so there’s potential trademark infringement, [as] the registration covers clothing,” he said.
Green co-leader Chloe Swarbrick wore the shirt to Paul’s campaign launch.
According to Gray, the main issue would likely be with the promotion name “Tameticalla” rather than the shirt itself.
“She might be able to say, well, that’s not use as a trademark, but given the way it’s merchandised with ‘Tamatellica’ range, that might be pushing it.
“She and the Green Party now have clearly made the link with Metallica and that’s where the problem probably arises.”
It was initially advertised for purchase by Paul across her social media platforms in November last year in a video featuring her wearing the shirt herself.
Then this week party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was seen on social media wearing the shirt at Paul’s Wellington North campaign launch on Monday night.
It was for sale alongside stickers and posters with similar imaging.
A poster resembling the cover of the famous Edmonds Cookbook has also since been removed from the website.
The shirt was designed to match the Metallica brand.
“Musicians are particularly sensitive about politicians using their brand or suggesting there’s an association with them or using their music,” Gray said.
In 2014, the National Party was involved in a major copyright lawsuit over its use of a song similar to US rapper Eminem’s Lose Yourself in a campaign video.
The High Court initially ordered the party to pay $600,000 in damages in 2017, which was later reduced to $225,000 on appeal.
In 2024, Sony, the record company for the band Chumbawamba, sent Winston Peters a cease and desist notice, after Peters used their music at a state of the nation speech.
Gray believed the Greens made the right choice pulling the items from its site.
Other merchandise include stickers and posters contained the logo. Edmonds Cookbook-themed merchandise has also been pulled.
“The last thing they want is to even suggest that they’re ripping off international musicians or are suggesting that a particular band supports them if they don’t have that support.”
Tamatha Paul has been contacted for comment.
A Green Party bill aiming to alter New Zealand’s copyright law passed its first reading in the house earlier this year.
The Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill would give the authority to use a copyright work for the purpose of parody or satire and allows for a much wider interpretation of current copyright law.
Tobias Macintosh is a Newstalk ZB Multimedia Journalist, based in Wellington. He joined NZME in June 2025, and has a keen eye on the capital, local politics, crime and justice, and foreign affairs.