Who We Are
SOYER (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a private chef service trading as Soyer, based in New Zealand. We can be reached at enquiries@soyer.co.nz.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit our website, enquire about, or engage our services. By using our website or services, you agree to the practices described in this policy. We handle all personal information in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
Information We Collect
Information you provide to us directly:
- Contact & booking details — your name, email address, phone number, event date, location, and any notes or preferences you submit through our enquiry or booking forms.
- Dietary & health information — allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions you voluntarily share so we can prepare safe and appropriate menus for you and your guests.
- Payment information — billing details and transaction records you provide when arranging payment directly with us.
- Communications — emails, messages, or other correspondence you send to us.
Information collected automatically:
- Usage data — pages visited, time spent on the site, links clicked, and referring URLs.
- Device & log data — IP address, browser type and version, operating system, and device identifiers.
- Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 6 for details.
How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect to:
- Respond to enquiries and communicate with you about bookings, menus, and events.
- Plan, prepare, and deliver our private chef services, including accommodating dietary needs and allergies.
- Manage direct payments and send booking confirmations, invoices, and receipts.
- Send service-related communications such as reminders or updates about a booking.
- Send promotional communications about SOYER where you have opted in (you may opt out at any time — see Section 8).
- Improve and maintain our website, including analysing usage patterns.
- Comply with our legal obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable laws.
Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share it in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers — trusted vendors who assist us in operating our business (e.g. payment processors, scheduling software, email platforms, website hosting). These parties are required to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.
- Professional advisers — lawyers, accountants, and insurers, where necessary.
- Business transfers — if SOYER is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
- Legal requirements — where required by law, court order, or a government authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of SOYER, our clients, or others.
Overseas Disclosure
Some third-party services we use — such as website hosting, email platforms, or operational tools — may store or process data on servers located outside New Zealand. Where personal information is disclosed overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure it receives comparable protection to that required under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, in accordance with Information Privacy Principle 12.
Third-party services we currently use that may involve overseas data storage include: Vercel (hosting) and Resend (email).
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyse site traffic. The categories we may use include:
- Strictly necessary cookies — essential for the site to function (e.g. session authentication).
- Analytics data — we collect anonymised usage data server-side to understand how visitors interact with the site. No third-party analytics scripts are loaded.
You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, including maintaining records for tax and accounting purposes, resolving disputes, and complying with our legal obligations.
Client booking records are typically retained for 7 years after the conclusion of services. Marketing preferences are retained until you opt out. When information is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it securely.
Your Rights & Choices
Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:
- Access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction — request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Opt out of marketing — unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or contacting us directly.
We will respond to access and correction requests within 20 working days as required by law. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 13.
Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at enquiries@soyer.co.nz and we will delete it promptly.
Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration, including SSL/TLS encryption and restricted access controls.
However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or platforms not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. When we make material changes, we will update the date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact & Complaints
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us:
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909.