Terms and Conditions | World Vision NZ

Privacy Policy

Last updated September 2025

1. Introduction & Consent
At World Vision New Zealand, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. By engaging with our websites, mobile applications, communications, events, or services, you consent to the collection, use, disclosure, and storage of your information as described in this policy.

2. Legal Compliance
We comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, PCI-DSS requirements (Self-Assessment Questionnaire EP scope), and global World Vision privacy principles. We align our practices with ethical data handling standards and donor expectations.

3. What We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information provided by you: Name, contact details, donation history, child sponsorship preferences, payment and billing information and other World Vision account information.
Digital Engagement Data:IP address, device/browser type, cookie IDs, email opens/clicks, website and mobile app interactions , posts and engagement with our social media and marketing channels.
Event & Program Data:Registration details, attendance, feedback forms, survey responses and competition entries.
Publicly Available Information: We may supplement supporter data with public records (e.g., births, deaths, marriages), and reputable sources (e.g., CoreLogic property data) to enhance supporter engagement and understand demographics.
Sensitive Information:Only collected with explicit consent (e.g., advocacy preferences).
Website Traffic Information: We collect aggregated website traffic information from our web server or third-party systems we subscribe to.

4. How We Collect Information
Information is collected when you:

Create an account complete contact forms or opt-in to receiving communication from World Vision
Donate, sponsor a child, or register for an event
Interact with our websites, emails, or apps
Engage with our social media or marketing channels
Provide information via surveys, competitions, or feedback forms are matched with public or third-party datasets

5. How We Use Your Information
We use your data to:

Process donations and sponsorships
Send newsletters, impact reports, event invitations, and appeals
Tailor content and fundraising efforts to your interests
Improve our websites and supporter experiences
Ensure secure, PCI-compliant payment processing
Analyse supporter trends and improve fundraising effectiveness
For any marketing or market research that we may conduct or statistical research purposes
Communicate with you via channels such as email, SMS, WhatsApp, direct mail, and other appropriate platforms.
Any other purposes for which you give us permission.

6. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Research
We may use AI tools and advanced analytics, including profiling and predictive models, to:

Personalise supporter content and fundraising offers
Understand website and email engagement
Detect fraudulent activity or misuse of services
Segment our supporter base or predict future giving behaviours

These tools may process data such as your contact details, interaction history with our platforms, public records, and demographic information. We do not use AI to make decisions that have legal or significant personal impact, and we do not process sensitive data via AI without explicit consent.

Any data used in AI or analytics tools is stored securely and only for World Vision operational purposes. We do not allow AI providers to use supporter data for their own purposes or disclose it to unrelated third parties.

If you prefer not to be included in data-driven profiling or deep research, you may opt out by contacting us at privacy@worldvision.org.nz

7. Sharing Your Information
As part of our organisation's operations, we may share your data with third parties for a proper or lawful purpose. We do not sell your information.

We may share data with :

Trusted third parties in New Zealand and overseas (e.g. payment gateways like Stripe, marketing platforms, analytics tools, ad measurement service providers) under data protection agreements
World Vision partner offices overseas (where relevant and lawful)
Auditors (e.g., PwC), legal, and regulatory authorities when required

When we send your information overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate information handling agreements and/or obligations are in place, and that the information is stored in compliance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

8. Cookies & Tracking
Our websites use cookies and similar technologies to:

Maintain user sessions
Track website usage, such as through Google Analytics (including Google Signals) or DoubleClick
Provide conversion analytics
Improve functionality and performance

You can manage cookie settings via your browser. Essential site functions may be affected by disabling cookies. Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser. Analytics and advertising cookies may persist for longer unless you clear them or adjust your browser settings.

9. Data Security & Retention
We apply strong technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data, including:

TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit
Secure processing of credit card payments through PCI DSS–compliant payment providers (e.g., Stripe, Windcave). We do not store full card details in our systems; only secure tokens are retained to support recurring donations.
Access controls and secure servers
Regular security reviews and alignment with PCI DSS

We retain supporter data for as long as there is an active relationship or a potential for ongoing stewardship, including Gifts in Wills and family continuation of support. This means some supporter records may be retained indefinitely, where necessary to honour donor intentions or legacy gifts.
Data is stored securely and access is restricted to authorised staff. Once information is no longer required for stewardship, legal, or compliance purposes, it is securely deleted or anonymised in accordance with our internal retention policy.

10. Your Rights
You may:

Access, correct, or request deletion of your data
Opt in or out of marketing communications
Request details on how your data has been used
Lodge a complaint with us or the Privacy Commissioner

Please feel free to contact our Supporter Services Team on 0800 800 776 to talk to us about your personal information or the communication we send you.

11. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to how we manage your information. We will update this Privacy Policy in advance of such changes. The latest version will be available on our website with a "last updated" date. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact Us
For privacy questions, contact:

Privacy Officer
World Vision New Zealand
privacy@worldvision.org.nz
Phone: 0800 800 776

Credit and debit card security
We work diligently to prote¬ct the security of your personal information, including credit and debit card information.

When you submit personal information including credit card details, a secure server is used. We protect your information during transmission by using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, which encrypts your information when transmitted over the Internet. You can check that the SSL is active by looking for the padlock symbol on many browsers.

It is important for you to protect against unauthorised access to your password and to your computer. Ensure you logout when you have finished, especially if using a shared computer.

Child Protection
Technology has created so many new opportunities for connecting with those we love and care about. We recognize that you may be wondering why we discourage contacting your sponsored child using technology like social media sites. While we are fully committed to making communicating with your sponsored child as enjoyable and efficient as possible, our priority is to ensure their safety and privacy, as well as yours.

We would like to share with you some posting guidelines so that you can make sure that your sponsored child’s safety is not compromised when posting information and communicating on social networking sites:

Please only use the first name of your sponsored child;
Please do not post your sponsored child’s ID number;
Please ensure that the photos you post are appropriate and that your sponsored child is adequately clothed. Photos should not be geotagged and wherever possible, measures should be taken to prevent electronic copying of photographs;
Please do not publish identifying or private information about the child (e.g. the name of the location where he or she lives).

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the care and protection of your sponsored children, or other children in a World Vision project, you can confidentially talk with our Supporter Care Manager on email@worldvision.org.nz or 0800 800 776

We appreciate your support and understanding in protecting the safety of your sponsored child.

Safeguarding Policy

Everything World Vision does is focused on one goal: the sustained wellbeing of children, especially the most vulnerable.
Central to everything we do is our commitment to first do no harm to children or adult beneficiaries, to respect the rights of all beneficiaries, and to uphold the best interests of children as a primary consideration in all actions and decisions. World Vision safeguards children and vulnerable adults; and upholds children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We take our responsibility to protect those we work with seriously. We have extensive Safeguarding policies and protocols in place to safeguard children and communities. World Vision’s Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy affirms our commitment to the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and their protection from abuse and exploitation. We condemn all forms of exploitation or abuse of children or adults, and have a zero-tolerance policy of incidents of violence, especially against children.

All World Vision New Zealand staff, board members, volunteers, contractors, and field visitors have passed police background checks, including a criminal conviction background clearance; and must sign the World Vision Child and Adult Safeguarding policy, committing to preventing harm to children and adults.

Safe programming
World Vision offices around the world are actively involved in protecting children and adults in the communities in which they work.

To ensure we are delivering safe programmes, World Vision works in partnership with:

Communities: To provide clean drinking water, nutrition, and primary health services that protect children and adults from preventable diseases and provide early treatment of illness.
Children: To empower children by promoting and encouraging their ability to participate and engage in decisions that affect them.
The most vulnerable children, adults and their families: Such as boys and girls involved in being exploited through child labour, those who survive war and conflict, survivors of abuse and neglect, and those who suffer from the effects of harmful traditional practices.
Other Non-governmental Organisations, United Nations Agencies: To establish a united voice on issues that affect children and vulnerable adults and to learn from one another about safeguarding best practice, programmes and interventions. World Vision advocates with governments and opinion leaders for policies, laws, and practices that strengthen the protection of children.

Behaviour protocols
All World Vision New Zealand staff, board members, volunteers, contractors, and field visitors adhere to safeguarding behaviour protocols, including but not limited to:

Create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults.
Ensure all physical and online contact with children and adult beneficiaries is appropriate in the local culture.
Use positive, non-violent methods to manage children’s behaviour.
Comply with digital safeguarding policies when handling individuals’ information.
Report any suspected breach or incident and comply with any investigation.
Do not seek or conduct a sexual relationship with anyone under 18 or any beneficiary.
Do not sexually exploit or abuse any beneficiary.
Do not exchange cash, goods or employment for sex, including hiring sex workers.
Do not inappropriately touch any beneficiary.
Do not hire children in any form of child labour.
Do not communicate with a child through social media without parental consent.

Non-compliance with any of these behaviour protocols is taken seriously, and any allegations will be investigated by the World Vision New Zealand Safeguarding Committee.

Visiting Sponsored Children or other World Vision projects
We encourage sponsors to visit their Sponsored Child and welcome requests from supporters to visit other World Vision projects.

All visits to field projects must be pre-arranged through the New Zealand office of World Vision at least three months before a visit. Due to safety issues, and to minimise the impact on programming work it is not possible to accommodate unscheduled or ‘last-minute’ visits and travel dates will depend on programming activities.

Before any visit:

A police background check will be completed for all visitors.
All visitors must sign the World Vision Child and Adult Safeguarding policy.
World Vision will ensure all visitors receive appropriate information before travelling including; personal safety, guidelines for safe interaction with children and adult beneficiaries; and all relevant cultural considerations.

During the visit:

All visitors will be accompanied by a World Vision staff member.
All visitors must adhere to the behaviour protocols detailed in the World Vision Child and Adult Safeguarding policy.
All visitors must adhere to culturally appropriate behaviour, including their speech, and dress.

We appreciate your support and understanding of protecting the safety of your Sponsored Child. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the care and protection of your Sponsored Children or other children in a World Vision project, you can confidentially talk with our Supporter Care Manager on email@worldvision.org.nz or 0800 800 776.

Keeping children safe online
We are fully committed to making communications with your Sponsored Child as enjoyable and efficient as possible. Our priority is to ensure the safety and privacy of you and your Sponsored Child; because of this, we do discourage you from contacting your Sponsored Child using technology like social media sites.

If you would like to share information or updates about your Sponsored Child online, we ask that you adhere to these posting guidelines to keep your Sponsored Child safe:

Please do not publish identifying or private information about the child (e.g. the name of the location where he or she lives).
Only use the first name of your Sponsored Child.
Do not post your Sponsored Child’s ID number.
Ensure that the photos you post are appropriate and that your Sponsored Child is adequately clothed.
Photos should not be geotagged and wherever possible, measures should be taken to prevent electronic copying of photographs.

Making a complaint
We take all expressions of dissatisfaction by supporters, donors, partners, government agencies, other NGOs and external bodies very seriously. If you would like to report any issue of a serious nature, regarding the conduct of World Vision New Zealand or its employees; including, but not limited to: dishonesty, fraud or corruption, bribery or suspected terrorist engagement or involvement, illegal acts or unethical actions; please use the anonymous and confidential 'Whistleblower hotline' hosted on EthicsPoint's secure servers. All investigations are treated confidentially.

Any complaints made to World Vision New Zealand can be made verbally or in writing, but verbal complaints will be logged and recorded. Any person may lodge a complaint with World Vision New Zealand over any matter which World Vision New Zealand has control over. Our policies ensure investigations are conducted promptly and fairly.

Community Guidelines

We’re so glad to have you a part of this online community of World Vision staff, donors, advocates and supporters.

Our hope is that you will find our website a place of resource and encouragement that allows you to engage in meaningful conversation with us and with others who are as passionate as you are to build a better world for children.

As we encourage everyone to express their opinions freely in informed debate and discussion, we also encourage courteous, respectful comments. Therefore, please know that we will delete and/or report posts, comments and images that we consider:

Obscene, profane, disrespectful or hateful in nature
Harassing or threatening to any person or organisation
Successively off-topic or repetitive comments by an individual
Repetitive solicitations or advertisements
Comments that encourage illegal activity

Comments from a Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn TikTok or Twitter profile that are reported will be managed by according to the platform’s individual community policies. 

These guidelines will be updated as necessary. Please share your questions, comments or concerns by contacting us.