Privacy Policy [Last Updated: 16 September 2025]
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
decerno is dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information in compliance with the Privacy Act 2020.
This policy applies to information collected through our website and during the course of providing our mediation, employment advocacy, dispute resolution, and business advisory services.
2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide our professional services and manage our relationship with you. The types of information we may collect include:
| Information Type | Examples | Purpose of Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Identity & Contact Data | Name, email address, phone number, physical address. | To communicate with you and identify you as a client. |
| Enquiry Data | Information you provide when you enquire about our services, including the nature of your dispute or business needs. | To understand your requirements and determine which of our services are appropriate for you. |
| Case & Advisory Data | Information relating to your matter, including employment records, business documents, dispute details, statements, evidence, and communications. | To provide our professional services, including representing you, facilitating dispute resolution, or offering business advice. |
| Technical & Usage Data | IP address, browser type, and information about how you use our website. | To improve our website functionality and user experience. |
| Financial Data | Billing address, bank account details, and payment information. | To process payments for our services. |
3. How We Use Your Information
Your personal information is used for the following purposes:
- To Provide Services: To conduct and manage our professional services, including mediation, employment advocacy, dispute resolution, and business advisory. This involves analysis, representation, communication, and facilitating outcomes.
- Client Management: To manage our professional relationship with you, including billing and administration.
- Legal Compliance: To comply with our legal and professional obligations.
- Website Improvement: To analyse website usage data to enhance our online services.
4. Confidentiality and Professional Duty
decerno is committed to maintaining the highest level of confidentiality for all client information across our services. For our employment advocacy and business advisory services, we adhere to strict professional duties of confidentiality regarding your personal and commercial information.
The Special Nature of Mediation Confidentiality is fundamental to the mediation process. It allows parties to be open and frank without fear that their statements will be used against them in other proceedings.
- Duty of Confidence: All information disclosed during or for the purpose of mediation is treated as strictly confidential.
- Agreements: Parties engaging in mediation will sign a Mediation Agreement and a Confidentiality Agreement, contractually binding all participants to maintain confidentiality.
- Without Prejudice Privilege: Communications made in an attempt to settle a dispute are privileged. This means they generally cannot be used as evidence in subsequent proceedings if the mediation is unsuccessful.
- Exceptions: Confidentiality is not absolute. Information may be disclosed if required by law, to prevent a serious threat to health or safety, or to enforce a settlement agreement.
5. Data Security and Storage
We take robust measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These measures include:
- Secure Storage: Storing physical files in secure premises and electronic data on secure servers.
- Encryption: Using encryption for data both in transit and at rest.
- Access Controls: Limiting access to personal information to staff and consultants who have a legitimate need to know.
We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law.
6. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not disclose your personal information to third parties, except in the following limited circumstances:
- With your explicit consent.
- Where disclosure is necessary to provide our services (e.g., to another party in a dispute, with your authorisation, or as required for advocacy).
- To our professional advisers, subject to strict confidentiality obligations.
- Where we are required or authorised to do so by law or by a court or tribunal order.
We will not transfer your personal information outside of New Zealand without ensuring adequate privacy protections are in place, consistent with our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020.
7. Your Rights
Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:
- Access Your Information: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correct Your Information: Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond to your request in accordance with the timeframes and procedures set out in the Privacy Act 2020.
8. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The most current version will always be available on our website, and we will note the “Last Updated” date at the top of the policy.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer at:
decerno 1 Albert Street, Auckland Central, 1010