Privacy of your information

Waikato Regional Council takes your privacy seriously.  

We are subject to the Privacy Act 2020 and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, which govern how personal information is collected, used, stored and accessed.

Collecting information from you

When we collect information from you, you will be told what we will use it for (unless you have already been informed). This information may be in the privacy statement on the form you are completing, or we may tell you if we are collecting your information via a phone call or in person.

How we may use information about you

Unless an exception applies, your information (including your name, address, email, and phone number) will only be used by us for the purposes we have told you about. These include Waikato Regional Council business purposes such as responding to your request for information or service and to keep you informed on progress. It may also include statistical and quality improvement purposes such as audit. On some occasions we may provide your information to third parties who are contracted to provide services for us.

Exceptions

Exceptions where your information may be used for a purpose not disclosed to you include:

• where disclosure is required to comply with legislative obligations.
• where the information is going to be used in a way that would not identify you (such as statistical reporting).

Your personal information

You do not have to provide us with information, but if you choose not to, we may not be able to provide you with the information or the service you are seeking. If you wish to keep any of your personal information private or to restrict its use, please let us know so we can take extra protective measures.

We take all reasonable steps to ensure that there are safeguards in place to prevent loss or misuse of your personal information and to keep it secure. You have the right to request access to, and correction of, any personal information we hold about you.

Making  a complaint / request for service

You may contact us if you have a complaint about the way we have dealt with your personal information by using the online request for service form or by calling us on 0800 800 401. Alternatively, you may contact the Privacy Commissioner on 0800 803 909.

When you contact us to make a complaint / request for service we will ask you for some personal information, such as your name and contact details. This is so that we can stay in touch with you regarding your complaint / request for service. We will not use your information for any other purpose without your permission.

You do not have to provide this information, but if you choose not to then we will be unable to keep you up to date with progress on your complaint / request for service.

Contact us

Please contact us if you have any questions about our privacy policy, or would like to access or correct your information.