Our privacy policy

Last updated: 17 February 2026

The Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a conservation initiative supported by Zero Invasive Predators Limited (ZIP) and other partners. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.

What information we collect and why

You can use the Te Manahuna Aoraki Project website without disclosing any personal information. However, we collect personal information when you choose to:

  • Make a donation: We collect your name, contact details, and payment information to process your donation and send a receipt.
  • Subscribe to our newsletter: We collect your name and email address to send you project updates.
  • Submit an observation: If you report a sighting, we collect your contact details and location data to verify and record the observation for scientific and conservation purposes.
  • Contact us: We collect the personal details you provide in contact or feedback forms to answer your queries.
  • Browse our site: We use Google Analytics to collect aggregated data about how visitors use our website (e.g., pages visited, device type) to help us improve the site.

How we use your information

We will only use personal information provided to us for the purpose of:

  • Administering, evaluating, and improving the website.
  • Communicating with you regarding your feedback or query.
  • Processing donations and maintaining financial records.
  • Sending you our newsletter (if you have opted in).

Who we share your information with

We do not publish your personal information on our website. However, we share information with trusted third-party providers who help us operate:

  • Mailchimp: For newsletter distribution.
  • Google: For website analytics.
  • Payment Processors: Secure third-party services used to process credit card donations.

Information provided in contact/feedback forms may be viewed by Te Manahuna Aoraki Project administrators and shared with the specific partner agency best suited to deal with your query (e.g., DOC or local councils).

Data retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary:

  • Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe.
  • Contact/Feedback: For the time required to address the matter.
  • Observation submissions: Indefinitely, as these form part of our long-term scientific and conservation records.
  • Donation records: For 7 years to comply with New Zealand financial record-keeping laws.
  • Website analytics: Google Analytics retains data for 14 months by default.

Cookies and tracking

Our website uses cookies (small text files stored on your device) to function securely and to analyse traffic.

  • Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to work (e.g., donation forms).
  • Google Analytics (GA4): Tracks how you navigate the site. You can opt out using the Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on.
  • Mailchimp: May set cookies to track if you open our emails.

Your rights

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’d like to exercise these rights, or have any concerns, please contact us via our contact page (note that we may need to verify your identity before releasing information).

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz.