Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 2026
Somaliland Society in New Zealand (“we”, “us”, “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, request support, volunteer with us, donate to us, or otherwise interact with our organisation.
We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the information privacy principles that apply in New Zealand.
1. Personal Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information such as:
- Your name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Postal or residential address
- Information you provide when requesting support or community services
- Information provided through volunteer applications
- Information provided through donation or fundraising activities
- Information you provide when contacting us
- Event registration or participation information
- Any other information you voluntarily provide to us
We only seek information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is collected.
2. How We Collect Your Information
We may collect personal information directly from you when you:
- Contact us through our website
- Submit an enquiry or support request
- Apply to volunteer
- Register for a community event or programme
- Make a donation
- Subscribe to communications from us
- Contact us by phone, email or other communication channels
Where we collect personal information from another source, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are informed about the collection, where required by the Privacy Act 2020.
3. How We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
- Respond to your enquiries and requests
- Provide community support and services
- Connect you with appropriate community or government services
- Manage volunteer applications and activities
- Organise community programmes and events
- Process donations and fundraising activities
- Communicate with you about services, events or activities you have expressed an interest in
- Improve our services and community programmes
- Meet our legal and administrative obligations
- Protect the security and integrity of our organisation and website
We will generally only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected or for a purpose that is directly related to that original purpose, unless another use is permitted by law or you have given permission.
4. Sharing Your Information
We will not sell your personal information.
We may share personal information where this is necessary to provide a service, respond to your request, operate our organisation, or comply with legal obligations.
This may include sharing information with:
- Service providers who assist us with operating our organisation or website
- Relevant community organisations or service providers where necessary to assist you and where permitted
- Government agencies or other organisations where required or authorised by law
- Professional advisers or other providers where reasonably necessary for our operations
We will only disclose personal information where there is a lawful basis for doing so and will take reasonable steps to protect your information.
5. Website and Cookies
Our website may collect certain technical information automatically, such as:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device information
- Pages visited
- General website usage information
We may use cookies and similar technologies to help our website function properly, understand how visitors use our website, and improve the website experience.
If we use third-party services such as Google Analytics, embedded social media, maps, forms, payment services or other external services, those providers may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
6. Keeping Your Information Secure
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.
Access to personal information is limited to people who need it for legitimate organisational purposes.
However, no method of storing or transmitting information online can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
7. How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law.
When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or anonymise it.
8. Your Privacy Rights
Under the Privacy Act 2020, you generally have the right to:
- Request access to personal information we hold about you
- Ask us to correct personal information that is inaccurate or incomplete
- Ask questions about how we collect, use or disclose your information
You can make an access or correction request by contacting our Privacy Officer using the details below. People generally have a right to request access to their own personal information.
9. Information Provided Voluntarily
Where you provide personal information to us voluntarily, you may choose not to provide certain information.
However, if particular information is necessary for us to provide a requested service, respond to an enquiry, process a volunteer application or carry out another activity, we may not be able to provide that service or complete that activity without the required information.
10. Children and Young People
We recognise the importance of protecting the privacy of children and young people.
Where our programmes or services involve children or young people, we will take reasonable steps to handle their personal information appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
11. Overseas Disclosure
Some of the technology or service providers we use may store or process information outside New Zealand.
Where personal information is disclosed outside New Zealand, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the disclosure is consistent with the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020. New Zealand’s privacy rules include specific requirements for overseas disclosure of personal information.
12. Privacy Complaints
If you believe that we have not handled your personal information appropriately, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can investigate and try to resolve your concern.
We will consider your privacy concern and respond within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for information about making a privacy complaint.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website, legal requirements or privacy practices.
The latest version will always be published on this page, together with the date it was last updated.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle personal information, please contact us:
Somaliland Society in New Zealand
Email: info@somalilandsociety.co.nz
Phone: 043332681 or 0274125758
Address: Level 1, 94 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
We are committed to treating your personal information with care, respect and confidentiality.