Who does this statement apply to?

This statement applies to anyone who engages with the New Zealand Media Council (“Media Council”). This includes visiting the Media Council’s website, making a complaint, or any other correspondence with the Media Council.

What information do we collect?

We collect the following types of personal information in the work that we do:

• Name, email address, phone number and home address.
• Content of complaints (including potentially sensitive information regarding any harm suffered) and enquiries about Media Council principles.
• Other correspondence and information provided as part of considering a complaint or enquiry.

In the course of considering complaints, the Media Council may also create other personal information including correspondence, comments and minutes.

When you visit the Media Council website, some general user information is also collected automatically (e.g. user internet address, search terms used, webpages accessed and date/time of website visit). We use this information (in an aggregated de-personalised form) to help us understand user requirements and improve both the website and our services. It is collected using cookies (small text files created by the website that are stored in the user’s computer to facilitate tracking of site usage).

How do we use your information?

The Media Council requests a complainant’s personal information to verify the authenticity of the person complaining, process complaints, and ensure the enforceability of the Media Council requirement for a waiver of their rights to bring legal action.

Complainants will also be identified by their full name in the (publicly available) decisions of the Media Council unless there is good reason provided to the satisfaction of the Media Council or the Media Council Chair that the identity of the complainant should be kept anonymous, or if there is some form of court ordered suppression.

What happens if you don’t provide information?

The Media Council may not be able to proceed with a complaint if the complainant does not provide their name, email address, phone number, home address and other personal information relevant to the complaint.

How long do we retain your information for?

The Media Council will retain all personal information in relation to complaints for the purposes of maintaining a record of the complaints and decisions and to ensure the enforceability of the waiver signed by complainants.

How do we store and protect your information?

We use some third-party providers to host electronic data including as follows:

• We use Microsoft Office 365 for our email and other office productivity applications. This means that the personal information we hold may be transferred to, or accessed from, countries other than New Zealand.
• Our website is hosted on Oncord with servers in Queensland, Australia.

We take steps to ensure that any providers we use can protect the personal information they process for us. You may contact us at the details below for further information regarding any third-party supplier.

What if you want to access or correct your information?

Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to request to see information that the Media Council holds about you that is your personal information. You can also ask us to correct your personal information if it is inaccurate, out-of-date or incomplete. This can be done via email (info@mediacouncil.org.nz) or phone (0800 969 357).