Creating a CO2 account privacy policy

This privacy policy sets out how we may collect, use and disclose the personal information we receive when you create your carbon dioxide (CO₂) account. This policy applies in addition to our general privacy statement and takes priority where they differ.

Waka Kotahi privacy statement(external link)

Please note that if you’re creating a CO₂account on behalf of someone else, you must first get that person’s authorisation for us to collect, use and disclose any personal information.

Terms and conditions

The information we collect

We may collect personal information provided to us in connection with creating a CO₂ account. This includes information that you give us as part of the application process, or in response to any follow-up enquiries, including:

• contact information (eg, your name, address, phone number, email address)
• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN - if you are a business).

We may also collect information from the Motor Vehicle Register for the application (to the extent law allows us to do so), and in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, Part 7, Schedule 4.

Why we collect this information

We may collect and/or use personal information you give us to create and administer your CO₂ account, including to:

• communicate with you about the account
• exercise our legal rights or powers under the Clean Car Standard
• process invoices and payments
• administer the Clean Car Standard in accordance with the legislation (for example, transfer carbon dioxide credits between account holders)
• comply with our legal obligations.

We may also collect, use and/or disclose personal information for other reasons where we are permitted to do so by the Privacy Act 2020 or other laws, such as:

• where you give your consent
• for the maintenance or enforcement of the law
• for research or statistical purposes
• to protect public safety.

If you don’t want to provide the requested information

If you don’t provide us with the personal information we request as part of the application process, we may not have enough information to create your CO₂ account.

Who we share your information with 

We are legally required under regulation 28 of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Regulations 2022 to make some information about your CO₂ account publicly available.  This includes:

• the account holder’s name and associated account number (unless the account holder is a person)
• the contact details of the account holder (unless the account holder is a person)
• whether the account is for new or used light vehicles
• which payment scheme the importer is on  (either Fleet Average or Pay as You Go)
• for Fleet Average (category 1) light vehicle importers:
  • the individual vehicle target, carbon dioxide emissions, weight of each vehicle, and vehicle type (Type A or Type B)
  • the fleet targets for the Fleet Average (category 1) light vehicle importer for each previous obligation year
  • their actual average vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and average vehicle weight from each previous obligation year
  • their level of achievement (accounting for any transfers and deferral) of targets for each previous obligation year.
• for Pay as You Go (category 2) light vehicle importers:
  • the individual vehicle target, carbon dioxide emissions, weight of each vehicle and vehicle type (Type A or B)
  • the level of achievement (accounting for any transfers and deferral) of applicable targets for each previous obligation year
• the account holder’s carbon dioxide emissions targets for each obligation year
• the number of vehicles imported in each obligation year.

Any information not required to be shared by law will be handled in accordance with our general privacy statement.

Waka Kotahi privacy statement(external link)

How we store and protect personal information

Under the Privacy Act 2020, we are required to implement reasonable safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, and from misuse, interference or loss. Your personal information is stored with Amazon Web Services in Australia.

We will hold, store, use and disclose any personal information collected through this application in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Official Information Act 1982.

Access and correction of your information

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. You also have the right to ask us to correct your information if you think it is wrong. You should let us know if your personal information changes, such as your address, so we can update our records.

When you make a request, we will process it as soon as we can, but no later than 20 working days after we receive it. There are some circumstances when we cannot give you access to your information, or change it in the way that you ask. We will always let you know if this happens, be as open as we can, and tell you what law we are following.

You can request access to your personal information through any of the following channels:

• our online question or feedback form
• phone: 0800 108 809 (motor vehicle licensing and registrations)
• phone: 0800 822 422 (driver licensing)
• by letter to:

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141 

• on the Request My Info Tool on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s website.

Request My Info Tool – Office of the Privacy Commissioner(external link)

We may ask for identification before we give you the information you have requested.

Privacy complaints

If you have a complaint about how we handled your personal information, you can contact us via:

• our online complaints form; or
• by letter to

Privacy Complaints
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141 

If you are unhappy about the way we handle your complaint, you may raise it with the Privacy Commissioner. Their contact details are: 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner
PO Box 10094
The Terrace
Wellington 6143

Freephone: 0800 803 909
www.privacy.org.nz(external link)