Campaign Contributions and Privacy Disclaimer

By making a campaign contribution, you acknowledge that your personal details (including name, address, and donation amount) may be recorded and disclosed in accordance with New Zealand’s Electoral Act 1993. Contributions above certain thresholds will be made publicly available through the New Zealand Electoral Commission’s register. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will handle your personal information in compliance with the Privacy Act 2020. For further details on how we collect, use, and safeguard your data, please refer to our full Privacy Policy

1. Electoral Act 1993 Compliance

Donation Limits: Ensure that any donation limits imposed by the Electoral Act are clearly stated. For example, anonymous donations over $1,500 must be disclosed, and contributions over $1,500 from overseas sources are prohibited.
Donation Disclosure: You must disclose any donation that exceeds the set threshold. Donors need to be informed that contributions above certain amounts will be published by the Electoral Commission.
Source of Donations: Only donations from New Zealand citizens or residents are allowed. You should clearly state that non-residents cannot contribute above certain limits (for example, no overseas donations over $1,500).
Transparency: Make sure the donor’s details, including the donation amount, are properly recorded. The donor must be aware of their personal information being made public in certain circumstances.
Accountability: Make sure you have a proper accounting system in place to track and report contributions as required.

2. Privacy Act 2020 Compliance

Data Collection: Clearly disclose why personal information is being collected (i.e., to process donations and comply with electoral laws).
Data Use: Ensure that the collected data is only used for its stated purpose (i.e., processing donations, fulfilling legal obligations, and contacting the donor if necessary).
Data Retention: Ensure that donor information is stored securely and only for as long as necessary to fulfill legal requirements.
Donor Rights: Inform contributors of their rights to access and correct their personal information under the Privacy Act.
Third-Party Sharing: If donor data will be shared with third parties (such as the Electoral Commission or for compliance reporting), this must be disclosed.

3. Financial Reporting

Accurate Reporting: You must ensure that all contributions are reported accurately, and that any required statements of account are filed on time with the Electoral Commission.
Gift in Kind: If any non-monetary donations are accepted (e.g., services, goods), make sure to report them according to the law.

4. Banking and Payment Compliance

Secure Transactions: Use a secure payment gateway to process contributions and ensure compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for handling credit card information.
Transparency in Payments: Make it clear how the funds are being processed and if any transaction fees apply.

5. Terms and Conditions / Agreement

Terms of Donation: Clearly outline the terms and conditions for making donations, including any restrictions (e.g., limits on foreign donations).
Refund Policy: Include information about how donors can request a refund if a donation was made in error or needs to be revoked.
Consent for Marketing: If you plan to use the donor’s details for future communication (e.g., newsletters, campaigns), you must seek explicit consent, as per the Privacy Act.

6. Electronic Communications Compliance

Spam: Ensure compliance with the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007, which regulates sending commercial communications (including emails) and sets out the rules for obtaining consent.
Opt-in/Opt-out: Provide clear options for donors to opt in or out of receiving future communications from your campaign.

7. Tax Law Compliance

Tax Receipts: If your campaign is a registered charity or has tax-exempt status, you may need to issue donation receipts for tax purposes (in accordance with Charities Act 2005 or any other applicable tax laws).