ElderLink Legal Information

Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 13 February 2025

Updated: October 2026

Welcome to ElderLink New Zealand / ElderLink Marlborough (“ElderLink,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the use of our website at elderlink.org.nz, including all apex domains, subdomains, domain redirects, domain aliases, and associated web properties owned, operated, or controlled by ElderLink New Zealand (collectively, the “Website”), and apply to all users who access or interact with the Website and its Services.

By using our Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must immediately cease using this Website.

1. About ElderLink New Zealand

1.1 Who We Are

ElderLink New Zealand is an incorporated charitable trust providing essential community support services to Marlborough residents in the 65+ age demographic who receive a government pension and rely on it as their sole or primary source of income. Our mission is to promote well-being, independence, and social connection among the demographic by offering:

  • Essential assistance - food parcels, welfare checks, and practical support for those in financial hardship.
  • Community events - social gatherings, movie evenings, and fundraising campaigns.
  • Volunteer programmes - opportunities for individuals to assist with ElderLink’s services.
  • Advocacy & education - raising awareness about issues affecting over-65s and promoting intergenerational initiatives for the purposes of future-proofing ElderLink's immediate and long-term vision.

1.2 Legal Information

ElderLink New Zealand is an incorporated charitable trust incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 and governed by relevant New Zealand legislation including the Trusts Act 2019 and the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Please note that ElderLink New Zealand is an incorporated charitable trust and is not registered with Charities Services:

  • New Zealand Business Number (NZBN): 9429052630187
  • Incorporation Number: 50227281
  • Date of Incorporation: 13 February 2025
  • Legal Status: Incorporated Charitable Trust (Not registered with Charities Services)

1.3 Our Website & Service Enquiries

The ElderLink Website serves as an online information hub where users can learn about our support programmes, apply for assistance, sign up for volunteering, make secure online donations via external platforms, and register for community events.

All information, service guides, and enquiry forms on this Website are provided for general informational and community support purposes. Submitting a service request, hardship application, volunteer form, telephone query, or message via social media does not establish a binding legal agreement, nor does it guarantee immediate service provision, funding allocation, or emergency intervention. Confirmed welfare support, food assistance, and volunteer placements are subject to eligibility verification, resource availability, and direct agreement between ElderLink and the recipient.

2. Definitions

For clarity, the following terms apply throughout these Terms & Conditions:

  • “Website” refers to elderlink.org.nz, including its apex domains, subdomains, domain redirects, domain aliases, pages, or web properties owned or operated by ElderLink New Zealand.
  • “User” refers to any individual or entity accessing or interacting with the Website.
  • “Services” refers to any information, programmes, volunteer opportunities, donation processes, or resources provided through the Website.
  • “Volunteer” refers to any individual participating in ElderLink’s programmes or assisting in its community initiatives.
  • “Content” refers to all text, images, videos, graphics, and other materials hosted on the Website.
  • “Personal Data” refers to any information voluntarily provided by users, such as name, contact details, hardship circumstances, or donation details.

3. Who Can Use This Website

3.1 General Access

  • By using the Website, you confirm that you are accessing it legally, in good faith, and in accordance with these Terms.

3.2 Prohibited Activities

Users must not:

  • Engage in illegal, fraudulent, or deceptive activities.
  • Post or transmit harmful, offensive, or misleading content.
  • Attempt to hack, disrupt, compromise website security, or interfere with edge protections.
  • Use the Website for unauthorised commercial purposes (e.g., advertising, automated scraping, data mining).

ElderLink reserves the right to restrict or terminate access for users violating these Terms.

4. User Contributions & Interactions

4.1 Submitting Content

By submitting any content (e.g., forms, comments, messages) to the Website, you agree that:

  • You own or have rights to the content.
  • Your content does not infringe on third-party rights.
  • ElderLink may review, remove, or edit content that is inappropriate.

4.2 Volunteer Applications

  • Volunteers are subject to police vetting and background checks prior to engagement with vulnerable seniors.
  • ElderLink reserves the absolute right to decline volunteer applications based on eligibility criteria, safety considerations, or operational capacity.

5. External Links, Relays & Third-Party Platforms

Our Website contains links to external third-party sites (e.g., government resources, social media channels, and donation platforms such as Givealittle). Digital communications initiated through this Website rely on external web infrastructure, payment gateways, and email relays.

While transit encryption (TLS/HTTPS) is maintained across standard web channels, ElderLink does not control external infrastructure and accepts no liability for third-party transmission delays, technical outages, data loss, or service disruptions beyond our direct control. Users should review external terms and privacy policies before engaging with third-party platforms.

6. Donations, Refunds & Tax Information

6.1 Making Donations

The ElderLink Website facilitates donations through secure, third-party payment gateways (e.g., Givealittle). All transactions are subject to the terms and privacy policies of these providers. ElderLink does not directly process or store credit card numbers. For queries regarding donations, please refer to the relevant payment platform’s support channels or contact us for guidance.

6.2 Refund Policy

Donations made to ElderLink New Zealand are non-refundable, as funds are allocated promptly to support our charitable activities. In exceptional circumstances (such as duplicate transactions), refund requests submitted in writing within 14 days to ElderLink refunds may be considered at ElderLink's sole discretion.

6.3 Tax Receipts

As a New Zealand incorporated charitable trust, donations made to ElderLink directly support our non-profit community services. Receipts for donations processed through partner platforms or directly by ElderLink are issued in accordance with applicable New Zealand tax and accounting standards.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Ownership of Content & Third-Party Branding

ElderLink New Zealand owns the copyright in its own original website content and brand assets. Third-party content remains the property of its respective rights holders.

Third-party logos, trade marks, business names, images, and other brand assets displayed anywhere on this Website remain the property of their respective rights holders. This includes materials appearing on sponsors and supporters pages, external services and resources pages, news articles, and any other website section. ElderLink claims no ownership of these materials.

Their display identifies the organisations concerned or acknowledges the relationship described on the relevant page. It does not imply any endorsement, partnership, or affiliation beyond what is expressly stated, and does not grant website users permission to reproduce or otherwise use those materials.

Select 3D icon assets used across the site are provided courtesy of DrawKit.

7.2 Limited Licence & Restrictions

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and use the Website and its Content for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, commercialise, decompile, or reverse engineer any Content or software without prior written consent from ElderLink.

8. Statutory Rights & Disclaimer of Warranties

For domestic users and community support recipients, nothing on this Website limits, excludes, or modifies non-excludable statutory rights provided under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA) or the Fair Trading Act 1986, to the extent applicable to non-profit charitable operations. Where services or sponsorships are acquired for business purposes, the parties agree that provisions of the CGA do not apply under Section 43 of that Act.

The Website and its Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. ElderLink disclaims all express or implied warranties regarding content accuracy, reliability, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or fully secure web operations.

9. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall ElderLink New Zealand, its trustees, employees, volunteers, or affiliates be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages (including loss of data or operational interruption) arising from the use or inability to use this Website or its Services.

Where liability cannot be completely excluded by New Zealand law, ElderLink’s total cumulative liability to any user for claims arising out of these Terms or site usage shall strictly not exceed NZD $50.

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from or related to these Terms or the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

11. Changes to These Terms

ElderLink reserves the right to revise these Terms at any time without prior notice. By continuing to use this Website, you agree to be bound by the updated version of these Terms.

12. Contact Information

ElderLink New Zealand

Email: General enquiries

Phone: Call ElderLink

Region: Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 13 February 2025

Updated: October 2026

ElderLink New Zealand / ElderLink Marlborough (“ElderLink,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and managing personal information in accordance with the 13 Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) set out in the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information Provided Directly:

  • Contact Details: Names, phone numbers, postal and email addresses submitted via form enquiries or communications.
  • Service User & Hardship Information: Information required to evaluate eligibility for food parcels, welfare checks, and companionship support. This includes age verification (65+ pension status), living situation, financial hardship details (collected with explicit consent), health-related notes relevant to welfare checks, and emergency contact details. All welfare records are treated with strict confidentiality.
  • Volunteer Records: Skills, availability, emergency contacts, referee details, and information necessary for police vetting and background checks.
  • Donation Data: Contact details required for donor acknowledgement and tax receipts. Payment card details are processed by secure third-party payment platforms (e.g., Givealittle) and are never stored on our servers.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically & Technical Data:

  • Log Data & Edge Security: IP addresses, browser types, session dates/times, and operational edge security tokens deployed via hosting infrastructure to protect against automated security threats and maintain uptime.
  • Cookies & Tracking: Functional and analytical tracking tools designed to optimise web experience and measure site usage.

2. How We Use Your Information

Personal information is processed strictly in accordance with IPP 1 and IPP 2 for primary charitable purposes:

  • To assess eligibility, deliver food assistance, conduct welfare checks, and coordinate volunteer services.
  • To communicate directly with users, handle direct enquiries, and process event registrations.
  • To issue donation receipts, maintain legal accounting compliance, and communicate with supporters.
  • To recruit, vet, coordinate, and safeguard volunteers and care recipients.
  • To satisfy statutory duties under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957, Trusts Act 2019, and Privacy Act 2020.

3. Data Minimisation, Data Routing & Security

3.1 Endpoint Security & Data Routing

ElderLink adheres to strict data minimisation principles, collecting only the personal data necessary to provide requested support. Website communications are encrypted in transit using Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS). Web form submissions are routed directly to private, password-protected email accounts accessible solely by authorised ElderLink trustees and staff. Web form endpoints and contact channels are obfuscated within site code to prevent automated scraper harvesting.

3.2 Physical and Technical Safeguards

We maintain multi-layered administrative, physical, and technical controls to safeguard personal data against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, or disclosure. While robust transit and storage safeguards are maintained, no internet transmission method is guaranteed 100% secure.

3.3 Data Retention Standards

Personal information is retained only as long as necessary to fulfil service delivery, complete volunteer engagement, maintain legal records, or satisfy New Zealand tax and auditing requirements (typically 7 years for financial and donor records). Upon expiry of retention periods, records are securely destroyed or permanently anonymised.

4. Information Sharing & Third Parties

ElderLink does not sell, trade, or rent personal information to commercial marketing networks. Disclosures occur strictly under the following conditions:

  • Explicit Consent: When a service user requests a referral to external health, housing, or social services.
  • Trusted Service Providers: Secure infrastructure providers (hosting, email delivery, Givealittle donation platform) bound by strict confidentiality obligations.
  • Legal Compliance: When required by New Zealand law, court order, or to prevent immediate threats to personal safety, health, or public welfare.

5. Your Rights & Access Requests (IPPs 6 & 7)

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to request access to any personal information ElderLink holds about you, and to request corrections or deletion where records are inaccurate or out of date.

To exercise your rights, please contact our Privacy Officer. Requests will be processed within 20 working days. Identity verification may be required prior to releasing records.

6. Cookies Policy & Analytics

6.1 Cookie Classification

  • Essential Cookies: Strictly necessary cookies and edge security tokens required for core site operation and threat protection.
  • Performance & Analytics Cookies: Aggregated analytical cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) used to measure traffic patterns and improve content accessibility without identifying individual users.
  • Third-Party Cookies: Embedded external media or sharing tools (e.g., social platform links, YouTube) which operate under their respective provider privacy policies.

6.2 Cookie Management

You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. Disabling cookies may affect minor interactive features, but main legal and informational content remains fully accessible.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

ElderLink reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect operational changes or statutory updates. Revisions will be posted directly to this page with an updated revision date.

8. Contacting the Privacy Officer

ElderLink New Zealand

Attn: Privacy Officer

Email: Privacy enquiries

Phone: Call the Privacy Officer

Region: Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand

If you remain unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz.