Privacy Policy 2026

The Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) is a longitudinal research programme based at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch. The CHDS has been following a cohort of 1265 people born in Christchurch in 1977 since birth.

For the purposes of this privacy policy, the CHDS research team is the organisation responsible for this website and for any personal information collected through it.

Contact: Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Email: chds.uoc@otago.ac.nz

This policy covers:

Information collected automatically when you visit this website
Information you provide to us directly through forms or contact requests on this website
How we use cookies and similar tracking technologies
Your rights under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020

This policy does not cover the longitudinal research data held by the CHDS about Study Members. That data is governed by separate ethical approvals, informed consent processes, and the University of Otago's research data governance framework.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this website, certain information is collected automatically by our website hosting and analytics systems. This may include:

Your internet protocol (IP) address
The type of browser and device you are using
The pages you visit on this website and how long you spend on them
The website you came from before visiting ours
The date and time of your visit

This information is collected in aggregate and is used to understand how the website is being used so that we can improve it. We do not use this information to identify individual visitors.

Information You Provide to Us

Contact Forms

If you use a contact form on this website, we will collect the information you provide, which may include your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not share it with third parties except where required by law.

Study Member Reconnection

If you use any feature on this website to reconnect with the CHDS as a Study Member or to update your contact details, we will collect the information you provide for the purpose of re-establishing contact with you about the study. This information will be held securely by the CHDS research team and used only for study-related communications. Providing this information is entirely voluntary.

Newsletter or Update Subscriptions

If you subscribe to receive updates or communications from the CHDS, we will collect your email address and any other information you choose to provide. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link in any communication we send you or by contacting us directly.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function correctly and provide information to website operators about how their site is used. This website uses the following types of cookies:

Strictly necessary cookies: These are required for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as logging in or filling in forms.
Analytics cookies: These allow us to count visits and understand how visitors move around the website. All information collected is aggregated and anonymous.
Preference cookies: These allow the website to remember choices you make, such as your language or region preferences.

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of this website. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected through this website for the following purposes:

To operate, maintain, and improve this website
To respond to enquiries and requests submitted through the website
To contact Study Members who wish to reconnect with or participate in the CHDS
To send updates or communications to people who have subscribed to receive them
To understand how the website is being used through aggregated analytics
To comply with our legal obligations

We will not use your personal information for any purpose that is incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected, without first seeking your consent.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

With the University of Otago, which provides the research and administrative infrastructure within which the CHDS operates
With service providers who assist us in operating this website or communicating with you, such as our website hosting provider or email service provider, where those providers are bound by appropriate confidentiality and data protection obligations
Where required by New Zealand law or a lawful request from a public authority
Where personal information is shared with service providers, we take steps to ensure it is handled securely and used only for the purposes for which it was shared.

Storage and Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Personal information collected through this website is stored on secure servers.
We retain personal information only for as long as it is needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by New Zealand's law.

Despite our efforts, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please contact us immediately.

Research Data Held by the CHDS

The CHDS holds longitudinal research data about Study Members collected over nearly fifty years. This data is entirely separate from the information collected through this website. Research data held by the CHDS is governed by:

The informed consent provided by Study Members (and when relevant their parents or guardians) at each wave of data collection
The ethical approvals granted by the University of Otago Human Research Ethics Committee
The University of Otago's research data governance policies
The New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code

If you are a Study Member and have questions about the research data held about you, including how to request access to or correction of that data, please contact the CHDS research team directly using the contact details at the beginning of this policy or see the information on the 'contact us' webpage.

Your Rights Under the Privacy Act 2020

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

Request access to any personal information we hold about you
Request correction of any personal information we hold about you that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading
Be informed about how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information
Make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner if you believe we have breached the Privacy Act 2020

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details at the beginning of this policy. We will respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020. If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909.

Links to Other Websites

This website may contain links to external websites, including the University of Otago's research repository and other organisations associated with the CHDS. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external website you visit.

Children and Young People

This website is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 without the consent of a parent or guardian. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate consent, please contact us and we will take steps to remove that information.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the date at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this privacy policy or to the personal information we hold, please contact us
Address: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Email: chds.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 372 6706

For privacy complaints that are not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner: PO Box 10094, The Terrace, Wellington 6143
Website: privacy.org.nz
Phone: 0800 803 909

Christchurch Health & Development Study Privacy Policy