Novator Privacy Policy

Effective 1 March 2026

Novator Medical takes your privacy seriously.

Privacy protection and confidentiality of health information are essential for quality health care, and we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the information we handle about you.

This policy explains:

How we collect, store, use and disclose your personal information
How you may access your personal information
How we protect the quality and security of your personal information
How you may seek correction of any personal information we hold
How you may make a complaint about our handling of your personal information

In addition to our professional and ethical obligations, at a minimum, our practice handles your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

More information about the Privacy Act 2020 is available at: https://www.privacy.org.nz/privacy-act-2020/privacy-principles/

More information about the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 is available at: https://www.privacy.org.nz/privacy-principles/codes-of-practice/hipc2020/

Collection of information

Our practice collects and holds personal information about you so that we may properly assess, diagnose, treat and be proactive in your health care needs.

The type of personal information we collect may include:

Personal details (E.G. name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, National Health Index (NHI) number)
Your medical history, including the responses you provide to the Novator Health Questionnaire
Notes made during the medical consultation
Referral to other health services providers
Results and reports received from other health service providers
Credit card or direct debit information for billing purposes
Information you may provide us via inquiries made directly to us by email, the Enquiry form on our website or any other means

Wherever practicable we will collect this information from you personally – either at the practice, over the phone, via written correspondence or via the Internet if you transact with us online.

In some instances, we may need to collect information about you from other sources such as referring doctors, treating specialists, pathology, radiology, hospitals or other health care providers.

In an emergency, we may collect information from your immediate family, friends or carers.

Cookies

Like many websites, our website uses cookies to collect information about those who come to and use the website. If you would rather not share that information, you can refuse them by turning them off in your browser. However, if you do not accept cookies, it may be that not all parts of our website will operate fully.

Use and disclosure

Your personal information will only be used or disclosed for purposes directly related to providing you with quality health care, or in ways you would reasonably expect us to use it to provide you with this service.

This includes use or disclosure:

To the professional team directly involved in your health care, including treating doctors, pathology services, radiology services and other specialists outside this medical practice. For example, this may occur through referral to other doctors when requesting medical tests or in the report or result returned to us following the referrals.
To the practice’s administrative staff for billing and other administrative tasks necessary to run our practice. Our staff are trained in the handling of personal information in accordance with this Practice Privacy Policy.
To your health insurance fund or other organisations responsible for the financial aspects of your care.
Where required by law, for example, pursuant to a subpoena.
To insurers or lawyers for the defence of a medical claim; and/or
To assist with training and education of other health care professionals.

Our practice does not intend to disclose your personal information to overseas recipients.

We will not share, sell, rent, swap or authorise any third party to use your personal information for any purpose other than those listed above, such as to market to you.

You may request that we do not share some or all of your personal information at a particular time or to a particular recipient noted above. If you wish to make such a request please put your request in writing by email: info@novatormedical.nz Please be aware that we may be unable to provide you with our services in full, if such a request is made.

Information quality

We aim to ensure the information we hold about you is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant. To this end our staff may ask you to confirm that your personal details are correct when you attend a consultation. Please let us know if any of the information we hold about you is incorrect or not up to date.

Storage

Our Practice takes all reasonable steps to protect the security of the personal information we hold, by:

Securing our premises.
Using passwords on all electronic systems and databases and varying access levels to protect electronic information from unauthorised interference, access, modification or disclosure.
Storing hard copy records in secure filing cabinets or rooms that are accessible only to Practice staff.
Using digital platforms which are certified secure.

Access to your personal information

Under law you have a right to access personal information we hold about you. Please put your request in writing via email: info@novatormedical.nz

A small fee for the retrieval and copying of your medical record may apply, including for copies of imaging and repeated requests.

Amendment of your personal information

If you consider the information we hold about you is not correct, please contact the practice in writing via email: info@novatormedical.nz You have the right to have any incorrect information corrected.

What happens if you choose to withhold your personal information?

You are not obliged to give us your personal information. However, if you choose not to provide the practice with the personal details requested, it may limit our ability to provide you with full service. We encourage you to discuss your concerns with us prior to your first consultation or with your doctor.

What about use of personal information for direct marketing?

We do not use your personal information for direct marketing.

What should I do if I have a privacy complaint?

If you have a complaint regarding the way your personal information has been handled by our practice, please put it in writing via email: info@novatormedical.nz. We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 14 days, and endeavour to provide a full response within 30 days of receipt.

Should you be dissatisfied with our response, you may lodge your complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in New Zealand. You can call them on 0800 803 909 or submit a complaint online.

If you have a query regarding our practice’s privacy policy, please contact our practice via email: info@novatormedical.nz we will be happy to discuss the matter with you.

Health Information Privacy Code Rules

We endeavour to follow the Health Information Privacy Code rules with care:

Only collect health information if you really need it.
Get it straight from the people concerned.
Tell them what you’re going to do with it.
Be considerate when you’re getting it.
Take care of it once you’ve got it.
People can see their health information if they want to.
They can correct it if it is wrong.
Make sure health information is correct before you use it.
Get rid of it when you’ve done with it.
Use it for the purpose you got it.
Only disclose it if you have a good reason.
Only assign unique identifiers when permitted

Changes and updates to our Privacy Policy

From time to time we may update or change our Privacy Policy. We are not obliged to notify you of any changes. We will post the latest version of our Privacy Policy on our website along with the date from which the current version of the policy is effective from.