Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Groundwork Digital ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.

This policy complies with the Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable New Zealand privacy laws.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Fill out contact forms or request quotes
• Subscribe to our newsletter or marketing communications
• Engage with us through email, phone, or social media
• Apply to join our network of tradies and businesses
• Enter into a contract for our services

This information may include:

• Name and contact details (email address, phone number, physical address)
• Business name and trading information
• Industry and service details
• Project requirements and preferences
• Payment and billing information
• Any other information you choose to provide

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior, including:

• IP address and location data
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages viewed and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Device type and screen resolution

We collect this information using cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 7 for more details).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide Services: To deliver the website development, SEO, and digital management services you've requested
• Communication: To respond to your inquiries, send quotes, and communicate about projects
• Marketing: To send you promotional materials, newsletters, and updates (with your consent)
• Improvement: To analyze website usage and improve our services and user experience
• Legal Obligations: To comply with legal requirements and protect our rights
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and fraudulent activity
• Network Management: To manage our network of tradie partners and facilitate referrals

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and delivering our services, including:

• Web hosting and CDN providers (Cloudflare Pages)
• Email service providers
• Payment processors
• Analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

We require these providers to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.2 Network Partners

If you request services that require referral to one of our network partners (tradies or businesses), we may share relevant contact and project information with that partner to facilitate the service delivery.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal processes, such as:

• Court orders or subpoenas
• Government investigations
• Requests from law enforcement agencies

4.4 Business Transfers

If Groundwork Digital is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.

4A. How We Process Form Submissions

When you submit a form on our website, your information is processed through the following services:

• Cloudflare: Our website is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Your request passes through Cloudflare's network for hosting, security, and performance. Cloudflare may temporarily process your IP address and request data. Form submissions are processed by a Cloudflare Worker. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.
• Groundwork Digital: We receive your submission and use it to respond to your enquiry, prepare quotes, and manage our service delivery.

We do not sell your information. Data is only shared with the service providers listed above and in Section 4, and only for the purposes described in this policy.

5. Your Privacy Rights

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

5.1 Access

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.

5.2 Correction

You have the right to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

5.3 Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal obligations that may require us to retain certain records.

5.4 Objection

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including marketing communications.

5.5 Withdrawal of Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process your information, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

5.6 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

• Email: enquiries@groundworkdigital.co.nz
• Contact form: groundworkdigital.co.nz/contact

We will respond to your request within 20 working days as required by the Privacy Act 2020.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our security measures include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission (provided automatically by our hosting platform)
• Secure hosting infrastructure with automatic platform security updates
• Limited access — only the business owner handles form submissions and client data

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

7.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide a better user experience and analyze website performance.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core features like form submissions and security. These cookies cannot be disabled.

Analytics Cookies: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect information anonymously, including:

• Pages viewed and time spent on site
• Traffic sources and referral URLs
• Device and browser information
• User behavior and navigation patterns

Google Analytics cookies are only activated if you provide consent through our cookie banner.

7.2a Cookie Schedule

The following table lists the specific cookies used on this website:

Cookie Name	Purpose	Type	Expiry
gwd_cookie_consent	Stores your cookie preferences	Essential	1 year
_ga	Google Analytics - distinguishes unique users	Analytics (requires consent)	2 years
_ga_EHBHSN2J9B	Google Analytics - maintains session state	Analytics (requires consent)	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics - distinguishes users	Analytics (requires consent)	24 hours

7.3 Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies in several ways:

• Cookie Banner: When you first visit our site, you can accept or decline analytics cookies through our cookie consent banner
• Cookie Settings: You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking Manage Cookie Preferences
• Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies through their settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality

7.4 Third-Party Cookies

Google Analytics may set third-party cookies on your device. For more information about how Google uses data, visit: https://policies.google.com/privacy

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Typical retention periods include:

• Client Records: 7 years after the completion of services (for tax and accounting purposes)
• Marketing Contacts: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website Analytics: Google Analytics data is retained for 26 months
• Contact Form Submissions: 2 years or until deletion is requested

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside New Zealand, including:

• Web hosting and CDN services (Cloudflare Pages - global network)
• Google Analytics servers (United States)
• Email service providers

When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with New Zealand privacy laws.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you of significant changes via email or prominent website notice
• Obtain your consent where required by law

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy complaint, you have the right to contact the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner:

14. Consent

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described herein.