DriveForwardNZ Limited ("DriveForwardNZ", "we", "us" or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information we hold about you.
This Privacy Statement explains what personal information we may collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, when we may share it, and how you can exercise your rights in relation to your information.
DriveForwardNZ operates in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable New Zealand laws. Our approach is to collect and use personal information only where it is reasonably necessary for our business activities and the services we provide.
1. Why we collect personal information
We collect personal information primarily so that we can provide driving instruction, driver training, assessments and related services effectively and safely.
Depending on the service you use, we may need personal information to:
- create and manage your customer or learner record;
- arrange and administer driving lessons, training sessions and assessments;
- confirm your identity and eligibility for a particular service;
- confirm relevant driver licence information;
- understand your training needs and learning objectives;
- develop and maintain your driver training plan;
- record your progress, competency and assessment results;
- communicate with you about lessons, bookings, cancellations and changes;
- process payments and issue invoices or receipts;
- meet our legal, regulatory, contractual and professional obligations;
- maintain appropriate records relating to driver training and assessments;
- manage complaints, incidents, disputes or safety matters;
- improve the quality and effectiveness of our services; and
- communicate with you about services or information that may be relevant to you, where permitted by law.
You may choose not to provide personal information. However, if information is necessary for us to provide a particular service, failure to provide it may mean that we cannot provide that service or may limit the services we can safely or lawfully provide.
2. What personal information we may collect
The information we collect will depend on your relationship with DriveForwardNZ and the services you request.
This may include:
Contact and identification information
- full name;
- preferred name;
- date of birth;
- residential or postal address;
- email address;
- telephone or mobile number;
- emergency contact details where appropriate; and
- information necessary to confirm your identity.
Driver and training information
Where relevant to the services we provide, we may collect:
- driver licence number and licence class;
- licence conditions and endorsements;
- licence status or relevant expiry information;
- learner, restricted or full licence information;
- driver training history;
- lesson attendance;
- training plans and objectives;
- competency and progress records;
- assessment results;
- information relating to driving experience;
- information about vehicles used during training; and
- other information reasonably necessary to provide driver training or assessment services.
Payment and transaction information
We may collect information necessary to administer payments and transactions, such as:
- details of services purchased;
- invoices and receipts;
- payment status;
- transaction references; and
- limited payment information provided through our payment providers.
Where payments are processed through a third-party payment provider, DriveForwardNZ may not receive or retain the full payment-card details.
Communications
We may retain information contained in communications between you and DriveForwardNZ, including:
- emails;
- text messages;
- online enquiries;
- booking communications;
- telephone communications where a record is reasonably required; and
- information provided through website or online forms.
Images and recordings
Where applicable, we may collect photographs, video or other recordings for legitimate business, safety, training, security or evidential purposes.
We will not collect or use images or recordings for purposes unrelated to the reason they were obtained unless permitted by law or otherwise authorised.
3. When we collect personal information
We may collect personal information when you:
- contact us by telephone, email, text message or other communication method;
- make an enquiry about our services;
- book or purchase a lesson, course, assessment or other service;
- complete an online or paper form;
- attend a training session or assessment;
- communicate with one of our instructors or staff;
- make a payment;
- provide feedback or make a complaint;
- visit or use our website or online services; or
- otherwise interact with DriveForwardNZ.
Where reasonably necessary and permitted by law, we may also receive information from another person or organisation.
For example, information may be provided by:
- a parent or guardian;
- an employer;
- a business or organisation arranging training on your behalf;
- an authorised representative;
- a training or assessment organisation;
- a relevant government agency or licensing authority; or
- another person who is authorised to provide information about you.
Where we collect personal information from someone other than the individual concerned, we will comply with the applicable requirements of the Privacy Act 2020, including the requirements relating to indirect collection of personal information.
4. How we use personal information
We use personal information for purposes connected with operating DriveForwardNZ and providing our services.
These purposes may include:
- identifying customers and learners;
- confirming eligibility for training or assessment;
- arranging and managing bookings;
- delivering driver training;
- preparing and maintaining training plans;
- monitoring learner progress;
- recording training outcomes and assessment results;
- communicating important information about your training;
- managing cancellations, changes and rescheduling;
- processing payments and accounting records;
- responding to enquiries;
- managing complaints and resolving disputes;
- maintaining appropriate business and training records;
- meeting legal, regulatory and contractual requirements;
- maintaining safety and security;
- investigating incidents or suspected misuse;
- preventing fraud or other unlawful activity;
- improving our training services and customer experience;
- conducting internal business analysis and quality assurance;
- communicating with you about relevant DriveForwardNZ services, where permitted; and
- carrying out any other purpose that you have authorised or that is otherwise permitted by law.
We will generally use personal information only for the purpose for which it was collected, or for a purpose that is directly related to that original purpose, unless another use is permitted by law or authorised by you.
5. Driver training and assessment records
Because DriveForwardNZ provides driver training and may provide assessment-related services, we may maintain records about your training and progress.
These records may include:
- dates and duration of training;
- training activities completed;
- competencies demonstrated;
- areas requiring further development;
- instructor observations;
- assessment outcomes;
- recommendations for further training; and
- other information reasonably required to document the services provided.
These records help us provide consistent training, monitor progress, demonstrate that training has been delivered and meet applicable legal, contractual or professional obligations.
6. Information relating to young drivers
Where a learner is under 18, we may communicate with a parent or guardian where appropriate and lawful, particularly where they have arranged or paid for training.
We will nevertheless treat the learner's personal information with appropriate care and will consider their privacy rights when determining what information can be disclosed to another person.
Where an employer, parent, guardian or other organisation arranges training for a learner, the information we provide to that person will depend on the authority under which the information was requested, the arrangements governing the training and applicable privacy law.
7. Information provided by employers or other organisations
DriveForwardNZ may provide driver training to businesses, employers, organisations or other third parties.
Where an organisation arranges training for an individual, we may receive information about the participant from that organisation and may provide the organisation with information about the training that is reasonably necessary for the agreed service.
The information shared may include matters such as:
- attendance;
- completion of training;
- competency or assessment outcomes;
- recommendations for further training; and
- other information agreed as part of the training arrangement.
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that information is only shared with people or organisations who are authorised to receive it and where the disclosure is permitted by law.
8. Keeping personal information secure
DriveForwardNZ takes all reasonable steps to protect personal information against:
- loss;
- unauthorised access;
- unauthorised use;
- unauthorised modification;
- unauthorised disclosure; and
- other misuse.
Security measures may include access controls, passwords, secure systems, restricted access to records, staff or contractor procedures, secure physical storage and appropriate technology safeguards.
Access to personal information will be limited to people who reasonably need the information for their work or for the provision of services.
No method of storing or transmitting information can be guaranteed to be completely secure. However, we will take all reasonable steps to protect the information we hold.
The Privacy Act requires organisations to use reasonable security safeguards appropriate to the circumstances.
9. How long we keep personal information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or for as long as we are required or permitted to retain it by law.
The appropriate retention period may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.
For example, training and transaction records may need to be retained for longer than routine communications because of legal, regulatory, contractual, accounting, insurance or business requirements.
When personal information is no longer required, we will take all reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or de-identify it.
The Privacy Act generally requires organisations not to retain personal information for longer than is necessary for its lawful purpose.
10. Your right to access your information
You have the right to ask DriveForwardNZ whether we hold personal information about you and, subject to the Privacy Act, to request access to that information.
You may also ask us to explain how your information is being used or disclosed where appropriate.
We will deal with access requests in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.
11. Correcting your information
If you believe personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading, you can ask us to correct it.
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that personal information we use is accurate, up to date, complete and not misleading.
If we do not agree to make a requested correction, you may ask us to attach a statement of correction to the relevant information in accordance with the Privacy Act.
12. Cookies and website technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.
Cookies are small data files stored on your device that can help a website remember information about your visit and improve functionality.
Depending on how our website is configured, cookies and similar technologies may be used to:
- operate essential website functions;
- remember preferences;
- understand how visitors use our website;
- improve website performance;
- measure the effectiveness of communications or advertising; and
- support third-party services such as analytics.
We will manage cookies and similar technologies in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and our website settings.
13. Payment information
When you make a payment to DriveForwardNZ, your payment may be processed through a third-party payment provider.
Where a third-party payment gateway is used, DriveForwardNZ may not receive or retain your complete payment-card details.
Payment providers may have their own privacy policies governing how payment information is processed.
14. Complaints and privacy concerns
We take privacy concerns seriously.
If you believe DriveForwardNZ has not handled your personal information appropriately, we encourage you to contact us first so that we have an opportunity to investigate the matter and try to resolve it.
When making a privacy complaint, please provide as much relevant information as possible, including:
- your name;
- the nature of your concern;
- the information involved;
- relevant dates; and
- any other information that may help us investigate the issue.
We will consider your complaint and respond in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020.
15. Contacting DriveForwardNZ about privacy
DriveForwardNZ Limited Privacy Officer New Zealand
Email: mike@driveforwardnz.com Phone: 0800 GOFORWARD
We recommend using the words "Privacy Request" in the subject line of an email concerning access, correction or another privacy matter.
16. Making a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your privacy concern, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
The Privacy Commissioner provides an independent complaints process for privacy concerns.
You can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner through its website or by telephone.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner PO Box 10094 Wellington 6143 New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 803 909
Further information about privacy rights and making a complaint is available from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
17. Changes to this Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes to our business, services, technology, legal requirements or privacy practices.
The current version will be made available through our website.
We recommend checking this page periodically to ensure that you are aware of any changes.
18. Our commitment
DriveForwardNZ is committed to handling personal information responsibly, transparently and respectfully.
We will aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for our legitimate business and training purposes, use it appropriately, keep it secure, retain it only as long as necessary, and respect your rights to access and correct your personal information.