Privacy Notice & Website Terms

Effective Date: July, 2026

Welcome to the website of Christchurch Periohygiene ("Periohygiene", "we", "our", or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, and other applicable New Zealand laws.

By accessing or using this website, or by submitting information through our online forms, you acknowledge and agree to this Privacy Notice & Website Terms.

Information We Collect

When you visit our website or contact us, we may collect information including:

Your name
Email address
Phone number
Information you provide through our contact, referral or appointment enquiry forms
Technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information and pages visited
Information collected through cookies and similar technologies

Please do not submit detailed medical records or sensitive health information through this website unless specifically requested by our team.

How We Use Your Information

We collect and use your information to:

Respond to enquiries and referral requests
Arrange consultations and appointments
Communicate with you regarding your enquiry or upcoming visit
Provide information about our periodontal and dental hygiene services
Improve our website, services, and patient experience

Maintain website security and functionality

Meet our legal, professional, and regulatory obligations

We will only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected or as otherwise permitted by New Zealand law.

Health Information

If you become a patient of Christchurch Periohygiene, any health information collected during your consultation or treatment is managed separately in accordance with the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 and applicable healthcare legislation.

Your health information is treated as confidential and is only accessed by authorised members of our clinical and administrative team or disclosed where permitted or required by law.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

Your information may be shared with trusted third-party providers who assist us in operating our website and practice, including:

Website hosting providers
Website developers and maintenance providers
IT support providers
Practice management or appointment systems
Website analytics providers
Referring dental practitioners where authorised by you or required for your care
Government agencies or regulatory authorities where disclosure is required by law

These providers are expected to maintain appropriate privacy and security standards and may only use your information for the services they provide to Christchurch Periohygiene.

Overseas Processing

Some information collected through our website may be processed or stored by trusted third-party service providers located outside New Zealand.

Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information is protected in accordance with New Zealand privacy laws and is only handled by providers with appropriate privacy and security safeguards.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to help the website function correctly, improve your browsing experience, and understand how visitors interact with our website.

Cookies may be used to:

Enable essential website functionality
Remember your preferences
Measure website traffic and website performance
Improve our website and services

Embedded third-party services, such as Google Maps or website analytics tools, may also place cookies in your browser in accordance with their own privacy policies.

When you first visit our website, you may choose to accept or reject non-essential cookies through our cookie banner. You can also manage or remove cookies at any time through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some areas of the website.

Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organisational measures to protect personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, alteration, or disclosure.

While we implement appropriate safeguards, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, meet our legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and comply with applicable New Zealand laws.

Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for general audiences.

If you are under the age of 16, we recommend using this website with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian when submitting personal information.

Your Rights

Subject to applicable New Zealand law, you may request:

Access to the personal information we hold about you
Correction of any personal information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date

To make a request or ask a question about this notice, please contact us using the details available on our Contact page.

Privacy Concerns

If you believe your personal information has not been handled appropriately, please contact Christchurch Periohygiene so we can investigate your concerns.

If you remain dissatisfied, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand for further information about your privacy rights.

Website Terms

Website Information

The information provided on this website is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is designed to help you better understand periodontal conditions, treatment options, and oral health.

The information provided does not constitute dental or medical advice and should not replace consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified dental professional.

Treatment recommendations, fees, and expected outcomes can only be determined following an individual clinical assessment.

Dental Emergencies

This website, including any online enquiry, referral or appointment request forms, is not monitored for dental emergencies.

If you require urgent dental care, please contact Christchurch Periohygiene directly by phone or seek appropriate emergency dental treatment.

Referral and Appointment Requests

Submitting an online referral, appointment request or enquiry does not confirm an appointment.

Consultations and appointments are confirmed only after you have been contacted by a member of our team.

Acceptable Use

You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not interfere with its operation or the experience of other users.

You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the website or introduce malicious software or harmful code.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website—including text, graphics, logos, photographs, videos, illustrations, design elements, and other materials—is owned by or licensed to Christchurch Periohygiene and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

No content may be copied, reproduced, distributed, modified, or used without prior written permission.

Third-Party Links

Our website may include links to third-party websites for your convenience.

Christchurch Periohygiene is not responsible for the content, availability, security, or privacy practices of external websites.

Limitation of Liability

While we endeavour to ensure the information on this website is accurate and current, Christchurch Periohygiene makes no warranties regarding its completeness, reliability, or accuracy.

To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law, Christchurch Periohygiene excludes liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from the use of, or reliance upon, this website.

Nothing in these Website Terms limits or excludes any rights that cannot legally be excluded under New Zealand law.

Changes to This Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice & Website Terms from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website functionality, technology, or legal obligations.

The latest version will always be published on this page, and continued use of this website constitutes acceptance of any updates.

Governing Law

This website and these Privacy Notice & Website Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from the use of this website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.