Cookie and Privacy Policy

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Introduction

At Pet Sitting NZ, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled responsibly and transparently. This Cookie and Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit our website, www.petsittingnz.co.nz, or join the PSNZ community as a member. By accessing or using our website, or registering as a member, you consent to the practices outlined in this policy. We encourage you to review this policy to understand how we manage your personal information and the steps we take to protect it.

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Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you provide to us voluntarily, and the type of information collected depends on how you engage with PSNZ:

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• General visitors and free members: Name, email address, and other contact details provided when registering, subscribing, or contacting us.
• Paid, verified pet sitter members: In addition to the above, we collect verification information required to complete the PSNZ verification process, including a copy of valid government-issued photo ID, NZ Ministry of Justice criminal record check results, and reference contact details.
• Purrfessionals (business) members: Business name, contact details, and business information relevant to your Directory listing.
• Content submissions: If you choose to share photos, videos, or written content with PSNZ (for example, for use in marketing or promotional material), we collect and store this content along with any details you provide about it.
• Usage Data: We also automatically collect data about how you interact with our website, including IP addresses, browser types, pages viewed, and time spent on the website, through cookies and similar tracking technologies.

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Use of Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device to improve your browsing experience. We use cookies to personalise content, analyse website traffic, and enhance the functionality of our website. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this policy.

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Types of Cookies We Use:

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• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the operation of the website and enable core functionalities, such as secure logins and form submissions.
• Analytical/Performance Cookies: Allow us to analyse website traffic, identify usage patterns, and improve our website's performance.
• Functionality Cookies: Allow the website to remember your preferences, such as language settings or login credentials.
• Targeting Cookies: Track your browsing activity across different websites to deliver relevant advertisements or content.
• Third-Party Cookies: We use third-party services such as Google Analytics to collect data about website traffic and user behaviour.

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Cookie Consent

When you visit our website, you will be asked to consent to the use of cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings at any time. Please note that some cookies are essential for the operation of the website, and blocking these cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of the site.

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How We Use Your Information

The information we collect is used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to:

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• Providing and personalising our services, including membership verification and Directory listings
• Communicating with you, such as sending newsletters, updates, or responding to inquiries
• Featuring or promoting your content (photos, videos, written submissions) across PSNZ's website, social media, and marketing materials, where you have provided this content or permission as outlined in our Terms and Conditions
• Analysing and improving the functionality of our website
• Complying with legal obligations or regulatory requirements

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Sharing Information with Third Parties

We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in the operation of our website, membership platform, and related services. These third parties are required to handle your data securely and in compliance with data protection laws. Our current service providers include:

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• Memberstack — membership account management and access
• Stripe — secure payment processing
• Airtable — internal data organisation and member record-keeping
• Omnisend — email marketing and member communications
• Pipedream — workflow automation connecting the tools above
• Google Analytics — website traffic and usage analytics

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Some of these providers may store or process data on servers located outside New Zealand. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information continues to be protected to a standard comparable with New Zealand law, in line with the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020.

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We ensure that all third-party providers who handle your personal information are required to comply with appropriate data protection measures.

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Your Rights

You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

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• Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You may request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions and retention requirements outlined below.
• Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or contacting us directly.
• Withdraw content permission: If you have submitted photos, videos, or other content to PSNZ, you may withdraw your permission for this content to be used at any time by contacting us, as outlined in our Terms and Conditions.

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To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@petsittingnz.co.nz.

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Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy:

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• General member and contact information is retained for as long as your membership remains active, and for a reasonable period after if you cancel or lapse, in case you choose to return.
• Verification records (photo ID, criminal record check results, references) are retained for up to 12 months following cancellation or lapse of a paid membership, in case you reactivate your membership within that time. After this period, these records are securely deleted.
• Content submissions (photos, videos, written content) are retained until you withdraw permission or request deletion, or until they are no longer relevant to PSNZ's marketing purposes.

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After the applicable retention period, your information will be securely deleted or anonymised.

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Data Security

We are committed to safeguarding your personal information and employ robust security measures to protect it from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. We utilise industry-standard security protocols, including encryption and secure storage practices, to ensure that your data is handled with the utmost care.

All personal data is stored securely through third-party service providers who are fully compliant with relevant data protection laws and maintain rigorous security standards. Payment information is processed securely by Stripe using advanced security technologies and encryption.

We continually strive to implement the highest standards of data security to protect your personal information and ensure the integrity of our services.

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Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach, we will promptly notify affected individuals and take necessary steps to protect your personal information. We are committed to ensuring that any breach of data is managed appropriately and in compliance with data protection laws, including notifying the Office of the Privacy Commissioner where required.

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Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Cookie and Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the updated policy will be effective immediately upon publication. We recommend that you review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

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Governing Law

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand, including the Privacy Act 2020.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at hello@petsittingnz.co.nz.

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Consent

By using our website, registering as a member, or submitting content to PSNZ, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Cookie and Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described herein.

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