Privacy

Top South Now ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use the Top South Now website, app, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using the Service, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide, improve, and personalise our services.

1.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

This may include:

• Contact information (name, email address, phone number)
• Account details (if you create an account)
• Comments, messages, and other user-generated content
• Competition entries or survey responses
• Advertising or business enquiries

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Service, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Device type
• Browser type and settings
• Pages you visit
• Time spent on pages
• Referral URLs
• App usage data
• Log files and diagnostic data
• Cookie-based tracking information

We may use cookies, tags, pixels, and similar technologies to personalise your experience and improve our Service. See Section 7 for more on cookies.

1.3 Information From Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Advertising partners
• Social media platforms (if you interact with our content)
• Competition partners or sponsors

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Provide and operate the Service
• Publish and manage news articles, content, and comments
• Respond to enquiries and provide customer support
• Personalise content and advertising
• Analyse website/app usage and improve performance
• Prevent fraud, abuse, or security issues
• Run competitions and promotions
• Meet legal or regulatory obligations

We do not sell your personal information.

3. Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose personal information to:

• Service providers (hosting, analytics, email, advertising technology)
• Payment processors (if applicable)
• Advertisers and sponsors (in aggregated or de-identified form)
• Regulators, law enforcement, or government agencies where legally required
• Business partners involved in competitions or promotions
• Professional advisers (lawyers, accountants)

We will not share your personal information except as described in this Policy or where you give consent.

4. Comments, Posts & User-Generated Content

If you comment on our website or submit other content:

• Your name (or username) and comments may be publicly visible
• User content may be indexed by search engines
• We may remove or moderate content in line with our Terms & Conditions
• We may retain backup copies of user-generated content even if deleted from public view

5. Advertising & Analytics

We may use:

• Google Analytics
• Social media tracking pixels (e.g., Facebook/Meta Pixel)
• Programmatic advertising networks
• Affiliate tracking links
• Sponsored content systems

These partners may use cookies or tracking tools to:

• Measure performance
• Provide targeted advertising
• Understand audience behaviour

You can opt-out of most targeted advertising.

6. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from:

• Loss
• Unauthorised access
• Misuse
• Modification
• Disclosure

This includes:

• Secure hosting
• Access controls
• Encryption where appropriate
• Internal policies and staff training

No system is completely secure, but we follow recognised industry standards.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

We use cookies to:

• Improve website functionality
• Remember your preferences
• Analyse traffic and usage
• Personalise content
• Deliver relevant advertising

You can control or delete cookies in your browser settings, but some features may not work properly without them.

8. Your Rights (New Zealand Privacy Act 2020)

You have rights under New Zealand law, including:

• The right to access your personal information
• The right to request corrections
• The right to request deletion, where appropriate
• The right to object to certain processing
• The right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner

To exercise your rights, contact us at the email below.

9. Retention of Personal Information

We keep personal information only as long as needed for:

• The purpose it was collected
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• Operational or security needs

Comments, account data, or logs may be retained for a reasonable period for moderation, audit, or safety purposes.

10. Links to Third-Party Websites

Our content may link to external sites. We are not responsible for:

• Their privacy practices
• Their content
• Their security policies

You should review the privacy policies of those sites.

11. Children

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when necessary. Updates take effect when published on this page.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, contact us:

Email: hello@topsouthmedia.co.nz
Address: 563 Main Road, Stoke, Nelson
Phone: 03 548 5900

We aim to respond to all privacy requests within a reasonable timeframe.