Tastemakers Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 9, 2025
At Tastemakers, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard your data when you use our website, participate in our monthly culinary competitions or engage with our services. By using our website or services, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy. We only collect personal information necessary to provide our services and operate the Tastemakers community, in compliance with New Zealand’s Privacy Act 2020.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve our services, including delivering your Tastemakers Mystery Box, managing your participation in competitions and fostering the Tastemakers community. The types of information we collect include:

Personal Information

Account and Profile Information: When you sign up as a Tastemaker, we collect your name, email address, phone number, delivery address and payment details to process your subscription and deliver your Mystery Box.
Competition Submissions: Photos, descriptions or other content you submit as part of the monthly competitions, including any social media posts you share for bonus points.
Tastebuddy Group Information: Information about the groups you create or join, such as group names and member details.
Dispute and Communication Data: Information you provide when disputing a rating or contacting us for support.

Non-Personal Information

Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our website, such as pages visited, time spent and links clicked.
Device and Browser Information: IP address, browser type, device type, and operating system to ensure compatibility and security.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies to enhance your experience, such as remembering your preferences and login status. You can manage cookie settings through your browser.

We collect this information directly from you, such as during sign-up or competition submissions, and we obtain your consent at the point of collection.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to deliver and improve the Tastemakers experience, including:

Providing Services: Processing your subscription, shipping Mystery Boxes and managing your participation in competitions and Tastebuddy groups.
Judging Competitions: Sharing your submissions (e.g., dish photos and descriptions) with our anonymous Tasteraters for rating based on creativity, presentation, use of ingredients and the X factor.
Personalising Your Experience: Tailoring content, such as recommending staples or notifying you about competition deadlines.
Providing Incentives From Our Partners: Offering our Tastemakers exclusive offers, promotions and incentives from our product partners.
Communicating with You: Sending updates about your subscription, competition results or responses to disputes and inquiries.
Social Media Engagement: If you opt to share your dish on social media for bonus points, we track this activity to award points, with your explicit consent.
Improving Our Services: Analysing usage data to enhance our website and services.
Legal Compliance: Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, such as the Privacy Act 2020, and protecting our rights, safety, or property.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data in the following circumstances:

With Tasteraters: Your competition submissions are shared with our anonymous Tasteraters for judging purposes. Tasteraters are bound by confidentiality and cannot disclose your information.
With Product Partners: We showcase how our partners products have been used by sharing dishes, amount of product use and general statistics around their product. We will not share your personal details with our Product Partners.
With Service Providers: We work with trusted third parties, such as payment processors, shipping companies and website hosting providers, to deliver our services. These providers are contractually obligated to comply with the Privacy Act 2020 or equivalent privacy standards.
Within Tastebuddy Groups: If you participate in a Tastebuddy group, your submissions and scores may be visible to other group members to facilitate group competitions, with your consent.
For Legal Purposes: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to a court order or to protect our rights, safety or property.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, with continued protection under this policy.

If your data is transferred outside New Zealand (e.g., by third-party providers), we ensure it is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 through safeguards like standard contractual clauses.

4. Your Choices and Rights

You have control over your personal information:

Account Management: You can update your profile, payment details or subscription status (e.g., pause or cancel) at any time through your account settings.
Disputing Ratings: If you believe a competition rating is unfair, you may submit a dispute within 5 working days of receiving your rating.
Cookies: You can opt out of non-essential cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect your experience on our website.
Marketing Communications: You can opt out of promotional emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails or by contacting us.
Social Media Sharing: You may choose whether to share your dish on social media for bonus points. By doing so, you consent to us tracking this activity solely for awarding points.
Data Access, Correction and Deletion: You may request access to, correction of or deletion of your personal data by contacting us at support@tastemakers.co.nz. We will respond within 30 days, subject to legal requirements. Access may be denied in limited cases, such as when it involves third-party data or legal exemptions.
Complaints: If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz.

You may withdraw consent for certain data uses (e.g., marketing or social media tracking) at any time, subject to legal or contractual limitations.

5. Subscription and Cancellation

Subscription: By signing up, you agree to provide accurate payment and delivery information. Your subscription auto-renews monthly at NZD$69, including free shipping, unless paused or canceled.
Pausing or Canceling: You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time through your account. Pausing must be reactivated by the 1st of the month to participate in that month’s competition. To be eligible for Tastemaker of the Year, you must remain opted in for at least 6 months.
Refunds: Refunds are handled in accordance with the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Contact us for assistance.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your data, including encryption for payment processing and secure storage for personal information. In the event of a data breach that may cause serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner as required by the Privacy Act 2020. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, typically for the duration of your subscription and up to 12 months after cancellation, unless required by law. Data is securely deleted when no longer needed.

8. International Users

Tastemakers is currently available only to residents of Auckland, New Zealand. Your data is processed in New Zealand, subject to local privacy laws.

9. Children’s Privacy

Tastemakers is not intended for individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us to have it removed.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party sites, such as social media platforms for sharing dishes. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. Please review their policies before sharing information.

11. Cultural Considerations

We respect the cultural values of all our users, including Māori perspectives on data sovereignty and strive to handle personal and group data responsibly, particularly for Tastebuddy groups involving community or whānau (family) data.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on our website. The updated policy will take effect on the date specified.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding your privacy, please contact us at:
Email: support@tastemakers.co.nz
Address: Tastemakers, 206 Beach Haven Road, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 27 256 4681
Thank you for being part of the Tastemakers community!