A bid by the Fiji national airline to trademark 15 traditional designs from tapa prints has upset some Fijians in New Zealand.
Air Pacific is rebranding as Fiji Airways in June, and wants to use the designs on its new planes and promotional materials.
The move has sparked protests in Fiji by cultural and women's groups, and 1,500 people have signed an online petition urging the Fiji government to reject the application.
A tapa artist in Auckland, Joana Monolagi, says many Fijians in New Zealand oppose commercial ownership of the designs.
"We're angry about it naturally because this is something that belongs to us as Fijians. It's our culture, our heritage, our identity that they're trying to copyright. And you can't do that."
Joana Monolagi says if the airline does trademark the designs, she will have to stop using them in her art.
