Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected.
Council’s Privacy Policy governs the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data by us in connection with this website. It has been prepared in accordance with our obligations and your rights set out in the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
Council reserves the right to modify or amend this policy at any time and for any reason. By using this website, you consent to Council's use of your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy (as amended from time to time).
What kind of personal data we collect
Council collects only the personal data you provide us (including your name, email address, and contact telephone numbers). Council may also keep a record of any information that you acquire from us.
Where we collect personal data from
Council collects personal data from the following sources:
- When you contact us whether in person, by letter, phone, text, email, instant messages or other means of electronic communication about information on the District, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Council services or anything on this website. For example, when you
- When you register and request Council to supply you with information or services in connection with this website
- By you conducting transactions through the website
- Indirectly through your use of this website and the services and functionality offered through it
- Apply for employment with us
- Complete and submit forms we provide for applications for consents, licences, approvals, permits, funding or other authorisations
- Use of any of our services or facilities, including signing up for and using our online services and apps, such as our online payment services
- Submit a written submission, request or other feedback in relation to applications for consents, licences, approvals, permits, funding or other authorisations, or in relation to any form of draft or proposed plan, policy, bylaw or other document
- Subscribe to any of our newsletter or update services; or
- Follow or post comments in response to our social media or other facilities such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
CCTV
"Closed Circuit Television" (CCTV) capturing both sound and footage, is used in particular areas to monitor Central Business District areas and for traffic management purposes, to secure facilities such as Council offices, libraries, and monitor public places in order to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and to promote community safety.
Signage indicates where CCTV equipment is operating within the District. CCTV footage will only be viewed by authorised staff and representatives from public law enforcement agencies (e.g. the NZ Police) in accordance with the purpose noted above, or when checking that the system is operational. No attempt will be made to identify individuals from CCTV footage except in cases of reported or suspected incidents requiring investigation, or in relation to any legal proceedings.
Drones
Council may use drones in connection with our work and delivery of services. This may include conducting condition assessments of our assets, undertaking surveys of our property and capturing other property work under development. If we fly over private property for the purpose of survey works, we do so only with the relevant land owner's consent. We do not use any footage of privately-owned properties without this consent.
If any drone footage identifies an individual, privacy enhancing technology is used to distort that individual's identity.
Our use of drones is conducted in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority's rules and guidance, and data is processed in accordance with the Council's Surveillance Camera Management Policy.
How we use your personal data
Council uses your personal data for the following purposes:
- Replying to your queries
- Processing your application for registration for use of Council services or to gain access to information on this website made available only to registered users
- Providing you with information about the District, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Council services
- Providing you with services
- Complying with relevant legislation and regulations
- Any specific purpose which Council notifies you of at the time personal data is collected
- Processing transactions that you may conduct through the website
Council may disclose information about you (including your identity) to a third party if the Council is requested to do so in the course of a criminal or other legal investigation, or if the Council determines that disclosure is necessary in connection with any complaint regarding your use of this website.
How we store personal data
Council stores personal data electronically and in paper form. The personal data is kept safe and secure using generally accepted standards of security.
How you can access/amend your personal data
You may access your personal data that Council holds by emailing us at Customer.Service@westernbay.govt.nz. We will provide you with a copy of the personal data Council keeps about you.
You may request that the personal data Council holds about you be corrected by emailing us at Customer.Service@westernbay.govt.nz. If Council agrees that your personal data is to be corrected, we will provide you with an amended record.
How long we hold personal data
Council will keep your personal data (on both our active systems and our archive systems) only for as long as necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected, in accordance with the Council's Records Management Policy and relevant legislation.
The Public Records Act 2005 requires Council to retain "protected records" indefinitely. In some circumstances, your personal information may be included within a protected record, including submissions you make in relation to bylaws, annual or long-term plans, and district planning instruments.
Website use of cookies
When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your device (for example, your computer or mobile phone). These include small files known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally. These pieces of information are used to improve services for you.
There are two types of cookie you may encounter when using this site:
First party cookies: these are our own cookies, controlled by us and used to provide information about usage of our site.
Third party cookies: these are cookies found in other companies' internet tools which we are using to enhance our site.
Some third-party tools used on this website, such as Google Maps, may set additional cookies. Council has no control over cookies set by third parties and assumes no responsibility for them.
How to refuse or delete cookies
You may refuse the use of cookies and delete any cookies that are already stored on your computer by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our site. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you visit our site.
Instructions on how to delete and refuse cookies for various web browsers are available at allaboutcookies.org. This is not part of our website, and Council is not responsible for its content.
Who you can contact for further information
If you have any queries about this Privacy Policy or personal data Council has collected, please contact us on 07 571 8008 (24/7) or email Customer.Service@westernbay.govt.nz