Effective Date: September 13, 2025
1. Introduction
Your privacy is important to us. Cornerstone Insurance is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy rights. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable laws.
As a licensed Financial Service Provider (FSP), we are required to collect and process personal information to provide insurance services, assess risk, process applications, and manage claims. This policy outlines our practices regarding your personal information.
We may collect the following types of personal information:
Contact Information:
- Full name, address, phone numbers, email address
- Date of birth, gender, occupation
- Emergency contact details
Financial Information:
- Income details, employment information
- Bank account details for premium payments and claims
- Credit history (where permitted by law)
- Assets and liabilities information
Health and Medical Information:
- Medical history, current health conditions
- Lifestyle information (smoking, drinking, exercise habits)
- Medical examination results and reports
- Mental health information where relevant to coverage
Insurance-Related Information:
- Previous insurance history and claims
- Risk assessment information
- Beneficiary details
- Policy preferences and coverage needs
We collect information through:
- Application forms and questionnaires
- Phone conversations and meetings
- Medical examinations and reports from healthcare providers
- Third-party sources (with your consent)
- Our website and digital platforms
- Claims processing and investigations
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
3.1 Insurance Services
- Assessing your insurance needs and eligibility
- Underwriting and risk assessment
- Issuing and managing insurance policies
- Processing premium payments
- Handling claims and investigations
- Providing ongoing customer service and support
3.2 Legal and Regulatory Compliance
- Meeting obligations under insurance and financial services legislation
- Complying with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws
- Responding to regulatory inquiries and investigations
- Maintaining required records and documentation
3.3 Business Operations
- Improving our products and services
- Conducting market research and analysis
- Fraud prevention and detection
- Risk management and actuarial analysis
4.1 Third-Party Sharing
We may share your personal information with:
Insurance Partners:
- Insurance companies and underwriters for policy placement
- Reinsurers for risk management purposes
- Other insurance intermediaries involved in your coverage
Professional Service Providers:
- Medical professionals for health assessments
- Legal advisors for claims and disputes
- Actuaries and risk assessment specialists
- IT service providers and data processors
Regulatory and Legal Requirements:
- Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and other regulators
- Courts and tribunals when legally required
- Law enforcement agencies for fraud investigation
- Government agencies as required by law
4.2 Overseas Disclosure
Some of our service providers and insurance partners may be located overseas, including in Australia, United Kingdom, and other countries with adequate privacy protections. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.
5. Data Security and Protection
We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information:
- Secure data storage systems with encryption
- Access controls and authentication procedures
- Regular security audits and assessments
- Staff training on privacy and data protection
- Secure transmission of sensitive information
- Business continuity and disaster recovery plans
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Fulfill the purposes for which it was collected
- Meet our legal and regulatory obligations
- Manage ongoing insurance relationships
- Handle potential claims and disputes
Generally, we retain:
- Policy information for 7 years after policy termination
- Claims information for 7 years after claim closure
- Medical information as required by insurance regulations
- Financial records as required by law
7. Your Privacy Rights
Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:
7.1 Access and Correction
- Request access to your personal information
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Receive information about how your data is being used
7.2 Other Rights
- Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
- Object to certain uses of your information
- Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
- Lodge a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:
- Improve website functionality and user experience
- Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
- Provide personalized content and services
- Enable social media integration
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.
9. Marketing and Communications
We may use your contact information to:
- Send policy updates and important notices
- Provide information about relevant insurance products
- Conduct customer satisfaction surveys
- Share educational content about insurance and financial planning
You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by contacting us or using unsubscribe links in our communications.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes through our website or direct communication.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:
Cornerstone Insurance
- Email: amy.tao@cornerstonefs.co.nz
- Phone: +64 211 280 727
- Address: New Zealand
For privacy complaints that cannot be resolved directly with us, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner:
- Website: privacy.org.nz
- Phone: 0800 803 909
12. Complaints Process
If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information:
- Contact us directly using the details above
- We will investigate your complaint within 20 working days
- If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Privacy Commissioner
- You may also contact the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman for insurance-related privacy complaints
This Privacy Policy demonstrates our commitment to protecting your personal information while providing you with excellent insurance services. We regularly review our practices to ensure we maintain the highest standards of privacy protection.