Terms of Service

Effective: 23 April 2026 · Governed by the laws of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Welcome to BuyLokal.kiwi. By using our website, mobile experience, or any service we provide you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the platform.

1. The service

BuyLokal.kiwi connects New Zealand retailers, artists, designers, councils and residents. We host the platform; transactions happen directly between you and the other party (retailer, group, council, etc.) unless stated otherwise.

2. Your account

  • You must be 16 or over.
  • Keep your password confidential — you're responsible for activity on your account.
  • Provide accurate information and keep it up to date.
  • One person/business per account unless agreed with us in writing.

3. Fees & subscriptions

  • Residents — free to browse, vote, comment, and join community groups.
  • Retailers / Artists / Designers — NZ$2/month after a free trial, billed by Stripe.
  • Councils — tiered monthly subscription (Base / Mid / Premium) as listed at sign-up.
  • Advertising auctions — winning bids are charged weekly; unpaid bids forfeit the slot.

4. Payments

Payments are processed by Stripe under Stripe's own terms. Refunds for platform subscriptions are at our discretion. Refunds from retailers / groups / councils are between you and the other party.

5. Content you post

  • You keep ownership of what you post. You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free licence to host and display it on the platform.
  • Don't post anything illegal, misleading, abusive, infringing, or that breaches someone else's privacy.
  • We may remove content that breaks these rules or our community standards without prior notice.

6. Retailers & sellers

  • You're responsible for the accuracy of listings, stock levels, and prices.
  • You must honour the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986.
  • You must ship orders promptly or notify buyers within 48 hours if delayed.

7. Community groups & donations

BuyLokal.kiwi is not a registered charity. When you donate to a community group via a Stripe Payment Link, you're paying the group directly — we don't touch the funds and can't issue tax receipts. The group is responsible for its own compliance.

8. Council notices

Paid councils can broadcast notices to their residents. Councils warrant that broadcasts are accurate and comply with local-government legislation. Residents can opt out at any time.

9. Prohibited uses

  • Automated scraping, bot activity, or load-testing without written consent.
  • Attempting to access another account or private data.
  • Reselling platform access.
  • Using the platform to distribute malware or spam.

10. Termination

You can close your account anytime from My Profile. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these terms. On termination, some data may be retained as required by law (see Privacy Policy).

11. Disclaimer & liability

The platform is provided "as is". To the maximum extent permitted by law, BuyLokal.kiwi is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages. Our total liability for any claim is capped at the greater of NZ$100 or fees you've paid us in the last 12 months. Nothing here limits the statutory rights you have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 where they apply.

12. Changes

We may update these terms; material changes will be emailed to registered users. Continuing to use the platform after changes means you accept the new terms.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Disputes go to the New Zealand Disputes Tribunal or the courts of Wellington.

14. Contact

Questions? support@buylokal.kiwi.

Last updated: 23 April 2026.

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