Recruitment privacy statement for the Surf Life Saving New Zealand

Date of publication: 19-05-2026

1. About this recruitment privacy statement

Surf Life Saving New Zealand uses its Career Site and recruitment systems to support recruitment for paid and volunteer roles across our organisation.

This recruitment privacy statement explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information when you:

• visit our careers site
• apply for a role (paid or volunteer) with Surf Life Saving New Zealand
• register your interest in future opportunities
• are referred to us or recommended for a role
• are considered for a role based on publicly available professional information
• act as a referee for someone applying for a role

This policy is intended primarily for people engaging with Surf Life Saving New Zealand and applies to recruitment activities managed through our careers site and related recruitment tools. It outlines what personal information we collect, where it comes from, how it is used, who it may be shared with, and the rights you have in relation to that information.

2. About processing of personal information

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual, such as your name, contact details, work history, or information provided as part of applying for a Surf Life Saving New Zealand role.

When we refer to processing personal information, we mean how we collect, use, store, share, and delete personal information during our recruitment activities.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is responsible for how personal information is handled during the recruitment process and does so in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. We may use third‑party systems or service providers to help manage recruitment, but we remain responsible for protecting your personal information when we do so.

3. What personal information do we collect?

During our recruitment process, we may collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to assess applications for roles with Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

This may include:

• Information you provide, such as your name, contact details, CV, application form responses, qualifications, work or volunteering history, and other information relevant to your application.
• Recruitment and assessment information, created during the recruitment process, such as interview notes or assessment outcomes, to help us understand and assess your skills, experience, and suitability for a role.
• Information from referees, where you have nominated them as part of your application.
• Sensitive information, where required for a role, such as information relating to criminal history, health, workplace injuries, fitness for duties, or background checks. We only collect this information where it is relevant to the role and take extra care when handling it.
• Website and system information, such as basic information about how you use our careers site. Our careers site uses cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality and understand usage. Some of this information may be considered personal information. For more details, please see our Cookie Policy.

We only collect personal information that is relevant to recruitment purposes and handle it in line with New Zealand privacy law. Some information we request is required to assess your application or meet legal obligations. If required information is not provided, we may not be able to progress your application. We will make it clear where providing information is optional.

4. Where do we receive your personal information from?

We collect personal information for recruitment purposes from a range of reasonable and expected sources, depending on the role and your circumstances.

This may include personal information we receive from:

• You directly when you apply for a role, register your interest, communicate with us, or update your details.
• Referees you have nominated.
• Referrals, where someone reasonably believes you would be interested in a role.
• Public or professional sources (for example, LinkedIn), where it is relevant to recruitment.
• Internal sources, if you are currently or were previously employed or engaged by Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
• Surf Life Saving clubs, where you are or have been a member or volunteer and it is relevant to your application.
• Government agencies, including:
  • Immigration New Zealand, to confirm your eligibility to work or volunteer in New Zealand.
  • The New Zealand Ministry of Justice, for criminal history checks.
  • The New Zealand Police, where police vetting where required (including roles involving work with children or other at‑risk persons).
• Transport‑related authorities, where driving is a requirement of the role.
• Vetting or screening agencies, where pre‑employment or pre‑engagement checks are required.
• Third parties involved in recruitment, such as recruitment agencies or pre‑employment check providers acting on our behalf.

Where we identify potential candidates through public or professional sources, we will confirm your interest before progressing your application further. We only collect personal information that is relevant to recruitment and handle it in accordance with New Zealand privacy law.

5. For what purposes do we process your personal information?

We use personal information collected during the recruitment process to fairly and effectively assess applications and manage recruitment for roles with Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

This includes using personal information to:

• Assess your application, skills, experience, and suitability.

• Communicate with you during the recruitment process.
• Carry out interviews, reference checks, background checks, and assessments.
• Confirm eligibility requirements (such as the right to work or volunteer in New Zealand).
• Meet safeguarding, safety, legal, and compliance obligations.
• Consider you for other suitable opportunities with Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

We only use personal information where it is relevant to recruitment purposes and handle it in line with New Zealand privacy law.

6. Who do we share your personal information with?

We may share personal information collected with a limited number of organisations or people where this is reasonably necessary to support recruitment activities or meet legal obligations.

This may include sharing personal information with:

• People within Surf Life Saving New Zealand involved in recruitment process.
• Surf Life Saving clubs, where relevant to your application.
• Recruitment systems or technology providers.
• Vetting or screening agencies (including police vetting where required).
• Government agencies such as Immigration New Zealand or Ministry of Justice.
• Recruitment agencies or professional advisers supporting our recruitment activities.

We only share personal information where it is relevant and take reasonable steps to ensure it is handled securely and in line with New Zealand privacy law.

7. On what legal bases do we process your personal data?

We collect and use personal information only where this is reasonably necessary to recruit people for roles with Surf Life Saving New Zealand and to meet our legal and safety obligations.

In some situations, we may ask for your consent to use your personal information for a specific purpose. Where consent is required, you can withdraw it at any time by contacting us. If you do, we will stop using your information for that purpose unless we are required or permitted to continue under New Zealand law.

8. Is your personal information stored outside New Zealand?

Surf Life Saving New Zealand uses third‑party recruitment systems and service providers to support our recruitment activities. Some of these systems store or process personal information outside New Zealand.

When personal information is stored or accessed outside New Zealand, we take reasonable steps to ensure it is protected and handled in a way that is consistent with New Zealand privacy law. Surf Life Saving New Zealand remains responsible for safeguarding your personal information at all times.

9. For how long do we keep your personal data?

We keep personal information only for as long as it is needed for recruitment purposes and to meet our obligations.

• Applicants and candidates: retained only as long as reasonably necessary to complete and consider you for future opportunities.
• Successful applicants: relevant information becomes part of your employment or engagement records.
• People who stay connected: retained until you ask us to remove it or it is no longer needed.
• Referees: retained only for as long as it is relevant to the recruitment process.

10. Your rights and how to raise a privacy concern

You have rights in relation to the personal information we hold about, including the right to:

• request access to your personal information.
• ask for corrections.
• request deletion or limits on use in some circumstances/
• withdraw your consent where consent is relied upon.

You can exercise these rights via our careers site, your account (if applicable), or by contacting us using the details in Section 11.

If you have any concerns about how we have handled your personal information during the recruitment, we encourage you to contact us first so we can address them. You also have the right to make a privacy complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in New Zealand. More information about making a complaint is available at privacy.org.nz

11. Where can you turn with comments or questions?

For questions, concerns, or requests relating to this recruitment privacy statement contact us at hr@surflifesaving.org.nz.

12. Updates to this Privacy policy

We may update this recruitment privacy statement from time to time. Any changes will be published on this page, and the date at the top shows when it was last updated.