Privacy Policy

1. What I collect

From you directly:

• Name, email, phone (via the contact form or WhatsApp)
• Student year level, curriculum (NCEA, Cambridge, or IB), and what you’d like help with
• Student work, progress notes, and assignment responses during tutoring

Automatically (from the website):

• Usage data (e.g. pages visited, where traffic comes from) via Google Tag (Google Ads) so I can see how the site is used and improve it. Google may set cookies – see Google’s Privacy Policy. You can manage cookies in your browser.
• When the contact form uses Botpoison for spam protection, it may use cookies to check that submissions are from real people.

2. How I use your information

I use what you give me to:

• Reply to enquiries and arrange tutoring
• Run sessions, set work, and track progress
• Stay in touch about scheduling, assignments, and progress
• Send progress updates when we’ve agreed to that
• Improve how I teach based on what works for each student

I don’t use your information for marketing or pass it on to third parties except as set out below.

3. Where your information is stored

I use these services to store or process your information:

• Google Workspace (Gmail): emails and attachments
• Formspark: contact form submissions
• Botpoison: spam protection on the form
• WhatsApp (Meta): messages
• Google (Ads / gtag): website usage and advertising measurement

Some of these may store data outside New Zealand. I’ve taken reasonable steps to choose providers with good data protection practices.

4. How long I keep it

• Email & WhatsApp: for as long as we work together, plus 12 months after we finish (so I can answer follow-up questions or give references)
• Form submissions: up to 12 months; enquiries that don’t lead to tutoring may be deleted sooner
• Student work & progress notes: while you’re my student, plus 24 months (for future enquiries or recommendations)
• Website tracking (Google): governed by Google’s own policy

You can ask me to delete your information at any time. Email me at james@aucklandmathstutor.co.nz and I’ll remove it within 30 days, unless the law requires me to keep it.

5. Keeping it secure

I take reasonable steps to protect your information, including:

• Password-protected accounts for all the services I use
• Encrypted connections (HTTPS; WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted)
• Only I have access to your information

6. Your rights (Privacy Act 2020)

Under New Zealand’s Privacy Act 2020 you can:

• Ask for a copy of the information I hold about you
• Ask me to correct anything that’s wrong or incomplete
• Withdraw consent for particular uses (this might affect my ability to keep providing tutoring)
• Complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner if you think I’ve mishandled your information

To do any of the above, contact me at james@aucklandmathstutor.co.nz. I’ll respond within 30 days.

7. Sharing your information

I don’t sell or rent your information. I only share it:

• If you’ve given me clear permission
• When the law requires it
• With the services in section 3, only so they can do what I’ve described (e.g. deliver emails, store form submissions)

Parents and guardians: For students under 18, you can ask for access to your child’s progress information once I’ve confirmed who you are.

8. Data stored overseas

Some of the services I use (Google, Meta, Formspark, Botpoison) may store data on servers outside New Zealand. I’ve checked their practices and am satisfied they meet standards comparable to what you’d expect under the Privacy Act 2020.

9. Changes to this policy

I may update this page from time to time. If I make a significant change, I’ll let active students know by email where appropriate. The “Last updated” date at the top shows when it was last revised.

10. Contact & complaints

Questions about your information or this policy?

If you’re not happy with how I’ve handled your information, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (New Zealand).

11. Consent

By using the contact form, starting tutoring, or getting in touch via WhatsApp or email, you’re agreeing to me collecting, using, and (where set out above) sharing your information as described here.

You can withdraw that agreement at any time by contacting me – though that may mean I can’t continue providing tutoring.