Privacy Policy

St Mary's Parish Opotiki ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care and respect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you interact with our parish, visit our website, or participate in our programs and services.

Last Updated: January 2026

1. Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways, including:

Personal Data

Information that can be used to identify you, such as:

• Name and contact details (address, phone number, email)
• Date of birth and family information
• Sacramental records (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, etc.)
• Parish registration information
• Photograph or video images (with consent) for parish publications

Non-Personal Data

Information that does not directly identify you, such as:

• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on our website
• Referring website addresses
• General geographic location

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide pastoral care and spiritual support to parishioners
• Process sacramental requests and maintain sacramental records
• Communicate parish news, events, and announcements
• Respond to your inquiries and prayer requests
• Manage parish programs, ministries, and volunteer activities
• Process donations and issue tax receipts
• Comply with legal and canonical (Church law) requirements
• Improve our website and services

3. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with:

• Diocese of Hamilton: As required for canonical and administrative purposes
• Other Parishes: When you transfer to another parish (with your consent)
• Service Providers: Third parties who assist with our operations (e.g., website hosting)
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our rights

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

4. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Sacramental records are kept permanently as required by Canon Law and civil legislation.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

6. Your Rights

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Access your personal information held by us
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information (subject to legal and canonical requirements)
• Opt-out of receiving non-essential communications
• Withdraw consent for specific uses of your information

7. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors use our website. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

8. Children's Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. For programs involving minors (such as youth ministry or sacramental preparation), we obtain consent from parents or guardians.

9. Photography and Media

Photographs and videos may be taken at parish events and services. These images may be used in parish communications, on our website, or in Diocese publications. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform the parish office or the photographer.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (such as the Diocese of Hamilton). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

13. Acknowledgement

By using our website or engaging with our parish, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these practices, please contact us to discuss your concerns.