Privacy

Privacy Statement

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

The Whanganui Residents and Ratepayers Association (Inc) ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our members, local residents, and visitors to our website.

This privacy statement outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect personal information from you, including your:

• Identity details: Name, title, and membership status.

• Contact information: Email address, phone number, and physical or postal address.

• Interaction data: Information regarding your queries, feedback or submissions to local council matters. 

• Surveys: We will not ask for your personal identifying information on our surveys unless it is a specific requirement of the survey validity. If you are asked for you email address or digital credentials (i.e. sign into Google), the information is not shared with the WRRA unless we specifically tell you it will be. 

3. How We Collect Your Information

We collect personal information directly from you when you:

• Apply for or renew an association membership.

• Sign up for our newsletter or digital updates.

• Contact us via email, phone, or our website contact forms.

• Participate in community surveys, public submissions, or event registrations.

In accordance with Information Privacy Principle 3A, if we ever collect your information from a third party (such as public local council records), we will only do so where permitted by law or with your authorisation.

4. Purpose of Collection

We collect and use your personal information to:

• Manage and administer your membership with the Association.

• Send you community newsletters, updates, and meeting invitations.

• Represent and advocate for resident and ratepayer interests to the Whanganui District Council and other bodies.

• Respond to your inquiries, feedback, or complaints.

5. Sharing and Disclosure

We value your trust and do not sell, rent, or lease our database to third parties.

We will only share your information if:

• It is directly required to fulfill the purpose for which you gave it to us (e.g., submitting a formal petition or community response to the Council with your explicit consent).

• We are legally required or permitted to do so under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

6. Storage and Security

We take all reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is stored securely against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Your information is held securely in encrypted cloud-based storage and password-protected databases accessible only by authorized committee members.

We retain your personal information only for as long as it is necessary to fulfill our operations or as required by law.

7. Your Rights: Access and Correction

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong.

If you would like to request a copy of your information, or have it corrected, please contact our Privacy Officer at:

• Email  us: whanganui.ratepayers@gmail.com