This Privacy Policy explains how BMC lawyers may collect, store, use, and disclose any Personal Information that you provide to us.

Your engagement with us and/or continued use of our website confirms your consent to us collecting, storing, using, and disclosing your personal information in the manner set out below.

Why We Collect Your Information

We collect personal information so we can provide you with a better, more reliable experience. This includes:

• • • Carrying out your instructions accurately.
    • Confirming your identity.
    • Meeting our legal responsibilities and supporting our internal operations.
    • Responding quickly and effectively to any issues you may have with our services.
    • Keeping you informed about legal updates and insights we believe may be relevant or useful to you.

We also take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect, use, or share is accurate, complete, up to date, and not misleading.

What information do we collect?

We collect and hold information from you that includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• • • Name.
    • Address.
    • Date of birth.
    • Identification/photograph.
    • Contact details.
    • Occupation.
    • Any other information which assists us in conducting our business, meeting our legal obligations and providing our services.

You are not required to provide us with your information. However, if you do not provide us with your personal information, we may not be able to act for you.  

How do we collect your information?

We will usually collect personal information through:

• • • Forms completed by you.
    • Face-to-face interactions, interviews and telephone conversations.
    • From third parties.
    • Our website www.bmc-law.co.nz may include the use of ‘cookies’.

How we handle your information

We use and share your information primarily for the purpose it was collected, as well as for related purposes you would reasonably expect, and where required by the Privacy Act.

In general, this means we may use your information to:

• • • Operate and manage our business effectively.
    • Provide, improve, and promote our services.
    • Communicate clearly and efficiently with you.
    • Meet our legal and regulatory obligations.

Protecting your information is important to us. We are committed to maintaining its security and respecting your privacy at all times.

To safeguard your information, we take practical steps to prevent misuse, loss, unauthorised access, or alteration. These measures include secure electronic systems and physical security controls.

We are required by legal regulations to hold your information for a period of ten years.  When we no longer need your information for permitted purposes, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy it in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Who we may share your information with

In some cases, we may need to share your information with trusted parties to provide our services or meet our obligations. This may include:

• • • Service providers or partners who assist us in delivering our services.
    • Courts, tribunals, regulatory bodies, government agencies, and other official organisations.
    • Other organisations where disclosure is necessary for us to meet our legal obligations.
    • Any person or organisation you have authorised us to share your information with.

We may also collect information about these individuals and organisations, and we handle that information in line with this policy.

We do not sell your personal information. Any sharing of your information is limited to what is necessary under this policy.

Accessing and correcting your information

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if needed.

If you would like to access or update your information, please send a written request to our Privacy Officer at PO Box 140, Paraparaumu, or email us at info@bmc-law.co.nz.

Updates to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in laws, technology, or how we operate. When we do, the updated version will be published on our website and will take effect from the date it is posted.

The most current version of this policy is always available on our website, or you can request a copy by contacting our Privacy Officer.

If you have any questions or concerns about privacy matters, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.