🐾 Privacy Policy for Animalia NZ

Last Updated: 23 October 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Animalia NZ, operated by Animalia Ltd (New Zealand).
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application or related services.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following information:

Personal Information: Name, email address, and other details you provide when creating an account.
Animal Information: Details about your animals, including photos, breeding records, and related data.
Photos and Images: Images you upload via your device camera or photo library.
Device Information: Device type, operating system, and app usage data.
Location Information: If you enable location-based features, we may collect your device's approximate or precise location (with your consent).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide, maintain, and improve the Animalia NZ service;
Manage your account and animal records;
Process and store data and photos you upload;
Send notifications about your animals and app updates;
Analyse usage to develop new features and improve performance;
Respond to support requests and provide customer service.

4. Permissions We Request

To function correctly, our app may request these permissions:

Camera: To take animal photos for records.
Photo Library: To upload existing photos.
Internet Access: To sync your data with secure servers.
Notifications: To alert you about animal events and updates.
Location Services: (If enabled) for location-based features.

All permissions are optional and can be managed in your device settings.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your information is stored on secure cloud servers (currently AWS) and transmitted using encryption (HTTPS/TLS).
We maintain technical and organisational measures to protect data from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.
However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data.
Information may be shared only:

With your explicit consent;
To comply with legal obligations;
To protect our rights, users, or property;
With trusted service providers (e.g., AWS, Firebase, Google Services) who assist in operating our app under strict confidentiality agreements.

7. International Data Transfers

Our servers and third-party providers (such as AWS and Google) may operate in data centres outside New Zealand.
When personal information is transferred overseas, we ensure that the recipient is subject to privacy safeguards that meet or exceed the requirements of the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you;
Correct any inaccurate or incomplete data;
Request deletion of your account and associated data;
Request export of your data in a readable format;
Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time.

Contact support@animalia.nz to exercise these rights. We will respond within 20 working days as required by law.

9. Children's Privacy

The app is not intended for children under 13 years.
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with information, please contact us so we can delete it promptly.

10. Third-Party Services

Our app integrates with:

Firebase (for notifications and analytics)
Google Services (for infrastructure and authentication)

These providers have their own privacy policies that govern their handling of your data.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as your account remains active or as required to provide the service.
Upon deletion, we remove personal data from active systems within a reasonable time, subject to legal obligations.
We may retain anonymised or aggregated data for analytical or statistical purposes that do not identify any individual user.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically.
When we do, we will post the revised version in-app or on our website and update the "Last Updated" date.
Material changes will be clearly communicated before taking effect.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding privacy or data handling, please contact us at:
📧 support@animalia.nz