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Legal Document
CHORES AWAY LIMITED (NZBN 9429051748593) ("Chores Away", "we", "us") is committed to protecting the personal information of everyone who uses the Platform. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and what rights you have under New Zealand law.
This policy applies to both Customers and Partners. Where a provision applies to one group only, that is stated clearly.
By registering an account or using the Platform, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy.
"Check-in" means the in-Platform action a Partner takes to confirm arrival at a Job address, which triggers geolocation proximity verification and activates insurance coverage.
"Check-out" means the in-Platform action a Partner takes to mark a Job as complete, which terminates insurance coverage and triggers payment processing.
"Chores Away" means CHORES AWAY LIMITED (NZBN 9429051748593, company number 9008588), registered at 1111/30 Beach Road, Auckland Central, Auckland.
"Customer" means a person or organisation who books cleaning services through the Platform.
"Job" means a confirmed booking for cleaning services made through the Platform.
"Partner" means an independent contractor registered on the Platform to provide cleaning services.
"Platform" means the Chores Away website (www.choresaway.co.nz), mobile application, and all related technology services operated by Chores Away.
"Personal information" has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 2020 (NZ): information about an identifiable individual.
This policy is governed by the Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand). The Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) in that Act set out how we must collect, store, use, and disclose personal information. Where this policy refers to your rights or our obligations, those rights and obligations arise under the Privacy Act 2020 unless stated otherwise.
When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and the password hash used to authenticate your account. Passwords are not stored in plain text; authentication is handled by Microsoft Entra ID.
When a Partner completes onboarding, we also collect:
As you use the Platform, we collect:
Payment card details and bank account information used for processing are handled by Stripe Connect. Chores Away does not store raw card data on its systems. Stripe's privacy policy governs how Stripe handles your payment data. Before a Partner's first payout, Stripe may conduct identity verification; that process is governed by Stripe.
We collect geolocation data from Partners at two specific moments only:
We do not track Partners between jobs or while they are off the Platform. We do not track Partners continuously during a Job. The geolocation data collected at Check-in and Check-out is used in real time to verify proximity and is not retained after that verification is complete. Full details of how geolocation is handled are in section 6.
For Customers, the Platform may optionally use your device's current location to suggest or pre-fill your service address at the time of booking. Chores Away does not track Customer location at any other time.
If you contact us by email, phone, or through the in-Platform chat, we retain a record of that communication to provide support and to resolve disputes.
If you provide us with personal information about another person (for example, a co-resident's name, a housemate's contact number as the access contact for a Job, or a household member who will be present during a service), you confirm that you have obtained that person's consent to share their information with us and to our handling it for the purposes described in this policy. We will use that information only for the purpose for which it was provided.
The Platform is intended for use by persons aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that a person under 18 has created an account, contact us through the Platform and we will promptly close the account and delete the associated personal information.
We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:
To operate the Platform - creating and managing accounts, processing bookings, facilitating payments, and enabling communication between Customers and Partners.
To display Partner profiles to Customers - Customers select which Partner performs their Job by browsing Partner profiles. Partner profile information displayed to Customers includes: name, profile photo, bio/service description, star rating, number of jobs completed, reviews from other Customers, and any optional information the Partner chooses to provide (such as years of experience, languages spoken, or special skills). Criminal record check results, identity documents, and bank details are never displayed to Customers. By completing Partner onboarding and uploading a profile photo and bio, you authorise Chores Away to display this information to Customers for selection purposes.
To process payments and payouts - transmitting Customer payments through Stripe, holding funds pending Partner payouts, and disbursing weekly payouts to Partner bank accounts.
To verify identity and eligibility - confirming a Partner's identity before the first payout, reviewing criminal record documentation during onboarding, and verifying proximity at Check-in and Check-out.
To improve the Platform - analysing usage patterns, diagnosing technical problems, and improving features.
To communicate with you - sending transactional messages (booking confirmations, job reminders, payout notifications) and, where you have opted in, marketing communications. See section 10 for how we handle marketing consent.
To comply with legal obligations - retaining financial records for the periods required by the Tax Administration Act 1994 and contractor records for the periods required by the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 and associated limitation law.
To enforce our agreements - investigating potential breaches of the Independent Contractor Agreement, the Platform Terms of Use, or this policy, and taking appropriate action.
We do not sell personal information to third parties. We do not use personal information for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects without human review. Any profiling or segmentation used for service delivery or pricing is subject to human review before application.
We disclose personal information to the following third-party service providers to operate the Platform. Some of these providers are based outside New Zealand. Under Information Privacy Principle 12 of the Privacy Act 2020, we are required to disclose when personal information is sent outside New Zealand.
We use several Microsoft services, which involve different locations and different IPP 12 grounds.
Microsoft Azure (Australia): Our Platform is hosted on Microsoft Azure servers located in Australia. Personal information about Customers and Partners is stored and processed on those servers. Chores Away relies on two grounds under IPP 12(1) for this transfer. First, Chores Away considers on reasonable grounds that the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and Microsoft's contractual data processing commitments provide comparable safeguards to the NZ Privacy Act 2020 (IPP 12(1)(b)). The Australian Privacy Act 1988 contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles that closely mirror the NZ IPPs, and the Australian Information Commissioner has equivalent enforcement powers. Microsoft additionally operates under a global Data Processing Addendum that imposes obligations beyond what either domestic statute requires. Second, by registering an account and accepting this policy, you are informed that your information may be held in Australia and authorise that transfer (IPP 12(1)(c)).
Microsoft Entra ID (global Microsoft infrastructure): Authentication is handled by Microsoft Entra ID. Your login credentials and authentication tokens are processed by Microsoft's identity services.
Microsoft Clarity (United States): We use Microsoft Clarity to record anonymised website sessions, generate heatmaps, and understand how visitors interact with the website. Clarity data is transmitted to Microsoft's servers in the United States. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer: by using the Platform and accepting this policy, you authorise the transfer. You may opt out of Clarity tracking through the cookie preference banner.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights (United States / Australia): We use Dynamics Customer Insights to analyse Customer behaviour patterns in aggregate and to segment our Customer base for service improvement and marketing purposes. Segmentation is used for marketing communications only and does not affect your service availability, pricing, or Partner allocation. Booking history and usage data may be processed by this service. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(b) for transfers to Australian Microsoft data centres and IPP 12(1)(c) for United States transfers.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service (United States / Australia): We use Dynamics Customer Service to manage support requests and customer queries. Personal information you provide when raising a support request is processed by this service. Chores Away relies on the same IPP 12(1) grounds as Azure above.
Payment processing and Partner payouts are handled by Stripe Connect, a service operated by Stripe, Inc. (United States). Customer payment data and Partner bank account details are transmitted to and processed by Stripe. Stripe's privacy policy is available at https://stripe.com/privacy.
We use several Google services, which involve the transmission of personal information to Google's servers in the United States.
Google Maps / Places API: We use this to verify a Partner's proximity to a Job address at Check-in and Check-out. The Partner's approximate location at those two moments is transmitted to Google. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer: Partners are informed of this collection and provide specific consent through the standalone Geolocation Consent form signed at onboarding, and by accepting this policy. The transfer also satisfies IPP 12(1)(d) as a secondary basis, as proximity verification is necessary for the performance of the service contract - without it, insurance coverage cannot activate and the Job cannot be marked complete.
Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website (page visits, session duration, traffic sources). This data is transmitted to Google's servers in the United States. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer. You may opt out through the cookie preference banner.
Google Ads (remarketing): We use Google Ads to display advertising to people who have previously visited the website. A remarketing pixel on the website transmits browsing data to Google for this purpose. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer. You may opt out through the cookie preference banner.
Firebase (Google, United States): We use Firebase for mobile app performance monitoring, crash reporting, and push notifications. Device identifiers and app performance data are transmitted to Google's Firebase infrastructure in the United States. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer.
Google's privacy policy is available at https://policies.google.com/privacy.
We use Twilio and SMSGlobal to send transactional SMS messages (such as booking confirmations and alerts). Twilio is based in the United States; SMSGlobal is based in Australia. Sending an SMS through these services involves transmitting your phone number to servers in those countries.
WhatsApp: Chores Away operates a WhatsApp group for operational communications with Partners. WhatsApp is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc. (United States). Partner phone numbers and any messages sent in that group are processed by Meta. Participation in the WhatsApp group is voluntary.
Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram): We use Meta Ads to display Chores Away advertising on Facebook and Instagram to people who have visited the website or who match our target audience. A remarketing pixel on the website transmits browsing data to Meta for this purpose. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer. You may opt out through the cookie preference banner.
Meta's privacy policy is available at https://www.meta.com/privacy/.
We use the following advertising platforms to reach people who may be interested in Chores Away services.
LinkedIn Ads (LinkedIn Corporation, United States): A tracking pixel on the website transmits browsing data to LinkedIn to enable targeted advertising on the LinkedIn platform. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer.
Twitter / X Ads (X Corp., United States): A tracking pixel on the website transmits browsing data to X Corp. to enable targeted advertising on the X platform. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer.
Reddit Ads (Reddit Inc., United States): A tracking pixel on the website transmits browsing data to Reddit to enable targeted advertising on the Reddit platform. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer.
You may opt out of all three through the cookie preference banner.
We use PostHog Cloud for product analytics, tracking feature usage and user flows within the Platform. PostHog Cloud is operated by PostHog Inc. (United States). Usage data is transmitted to PostHog's servers in the United States. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer: by using the Platform and accepting this policy, you authorise the transfer. You may opt out through the cookie preference banner. PostHog's privacy policy is available at https://posthog.com/privacy.
We use Trustpilot to collect and publish Customer reviews of Partners and the Platform. After a Job is completed, we may send you a review invitation email. This requires transmitting your name and email address to Trustpilot AS (Denmark), whose infrastructure also operates in the United States. Chores Away relies on IPP 12(1)(c) for this transfer.
Review invitation emails require your separate consent at the time of booking, in addition to your acceptance of this policy. You may withdraw consent for review invitations at any time through the Platform settings. Trustpilot's privacy policy is available at https://legal.trustpilot.com/end-user-privacy-terms.
We use Xero for accounting and GST reporting. Financial records relevant to Partner payouts and platform transactions are stored in Xero. Xero is incorporated in New Zealand; data storage locations are governed by Xero's privacy policy.
We do not share personal information with any other third party except where required by law or with your explicit consent.
We collect geolocation data from Partners at Check-in and Check-out only. This section explains exactly what is collected, how it is used, and what is not collected.
What is collected: A Partner's approximate device location at the moment they press Check-in or Check-out.
Why it is collected: To confirm the Partner is physically near the Job address before insurance coverage activates and before the Job is marked as complete.
Who processes it: Google Maps / Places API receives the location data to calculate proximity to the Job address. That calculation is returned to the Platform. How Google handles data transmitted through the Maps / Places API is governed by Google's privacy policy; Chores Away does not control Google's own data practices.
Retention: Chores Away does not store geolocation data after the proximity check is complete. We do not maintain a record of where a Partner was at Check-in or Check-out.
What is not collected: We do not track Partner location between jobs. We do not collect background location while the app is in use. We do not collect location while a Partner is not performing a Job.
Customer location: Customers may optionally allow the Platform to read their device location to suggest a service address during booking. This permission is not required to use the Platform. We do not track Customer location at any other time.
Partners are required to consent separately to geolocation collection as part of the onboarding process, through the Geolocation Consent form, and through the device-level GPS permission prompt.
As part of onboarding, Partners are required to obtain and upload a New Zealand criminal record check. This is sensitive personal information and is handled as follows:
We retain personal information for as long as it is needed for the purpose it was collected, subject to the minimum periods required by New Zealand law.
| Category | Minimum retention period | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Financial records (invoices, payments, GST) | 7 years from the end of the relevant tax year | Tax Administration Act 1994 |
| Contractor records (agreements, onboarding documents) | 6 years | Limitation Act 2010 |
| Criminal record documents | Underlying vetting documents deleted within 30 days of account closure. Outcome record (approved/declined) retained for 6 years from account closure. Extended if a complaint or legal proceeding is in progress at the scheduled deletion date. | Privacy Act 2020, IPP 9; Limitation Act 2010 |
| Personal account data (name, email, profile) after account closure | 2 years after account closure, then deleted or anonymised. Financial and contractor records are excluded - those are governed by the rows above. | Privacy Act 2020, IPP 9 |
| Booking history and Platform communications | 6 years from account closure | Limitation Act 2010 |
| Geolocation data | Not retained beyond the Check-in / Check-out proximity check | Privacy Act 2020, IPP 9 |
When we no longer need your information and are not required by law to retain it, we will delete or anonymise it.
The Privacy Act 2020 gives you the following rights regarding your personal information held by Chores Away:
Right of access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you by writing to legal@choresaway.co.nz. We will respond within 20 working days.
Right of correction: If you believe any personal information we hold about you is inaccurate or out of date, you may ask us to correct it. We will either make the correction or explain why we will not.
Right to request deletion: You may ask us to delete your personal information. We will respond to your request within 20 working days. We will delete personal information that is not subject to a statutory retention obligation (such as financial records required by the Tax Administration Act 1994 or contractor records required by the Limitation Act 2010). If we cannot delete information because a statute requires us to retain it, we will explain which statute applies and when the information will be deleted.
Complaints: If you believe we have breached the Privacy Act 2020, you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz. You are encouraged to contact us first at legal@choresaway.co.nz so we can try to resolve the matter.
We send transactional messages without requiring separate consent. These include booking confirmations, payment notifications, payout alerts, and job reminders. Transactional messages are necessary to operate the Platform and cannot be opted out of while you hold an active account.
We send marketing emails and SMS messages only to users who have opted in. For Customers, consent is collected via an opt-in checkbox at registration and may also be requested at the time of a first booking. For Partners, marketing consent is collected through a separate optional tick-box during the onboarding flow, distinct from acceptance of the Independent Contractor Agreement.
You may withdraw marketing consent at any time by:
Withdrawing marketing consent does not affect your ability to use the Platform or receive transactional messages.
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:
No system is completely secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately through the Platform.
In the event of a notifiable privacy breach affecting your information, we will notify the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals as required by the Privacy Act 2020 (Part 6).
The Platform is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you become aware that a person under 18 has created an account or provided personal information to us, contact us through the Platform and we will take appropriate action.
This section explains how cookies and similar technologies are used on the Chores Away website (www.choresaway.co.nz).
Cookies are small data files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember your preferences and enable certain functions.
Strictly necessary cookies - Required for the website to function. These include session cookies that keep you logged in during a visit. You cannot opt out of these cookies and continue to use the website.
Analytics cookies - Used to understand how visitors use the website and how users interact with the Platform. We use the following analytics services, each of which sets its own cookies:
You may opt out of analytics cookies by disabling them in your browser settings (see section 13.3 below).
Functional cookies - Remember your preferences (such as language or location settings) to improve your experience on return visits.
Marketing cookies - Used to show advertising to people who have previously visited the website. We use the following advertising services:
You may opt out of marketing cookies by disabling them in your browser settings (see section 13.3 below). You may also opt out of targeted advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance's opt-out page at https://optout.aboutads.info/.
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You may block or delete cookies at any time. Blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent the website from working correctly.
To manage cookies in your browser:
To opt out of targeted advertising:
You may opt out of interest-based advertising from participating companies at https://optout.aboutads.info/ (Digital Advertising Alliance) or https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ (European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance, also available in NZ).
We may update this policy from time to time. When we make a material change, we will notify registered users by email and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy. Your continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect means you accept the updated policy.
This policy is governed by New Zealand law. Any dispute about how Chores Away has handled your personal information is subject to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
For any questions about this policy or to exercise your privacy rights:
Privacy enquiries: legal@choresaway.co.nz Chores Away Limited 1111/30 Beach Road Auckland Central, Auckland www.choresaway.co.nz
For complaints that we cannot resolve, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner: Website: www.privacy.org.nz Phone: 0800 803 909