Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.

Cookies help us improve your experience on NZ Trails by remembering your preferences and understanding how you interact with the site.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable core features such as user authentication and session management. Without these cookies, the website cannot function correctly.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve the website's performance and user experience.

2.3 Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used by Google AdSense and its partners to serve advertisements relevant to your interests. They track your browsing activity across websites and build a profile to display targeted ads.

2.4 Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation, such as remembering your theme preference (light/dark mode) and display settings.

3. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. We do not control the setting of these cookies. The third parties include:

• Google AdSense — for displaying advertisements. Google Privacy Policy
• Google Analytics — for understanding website usage. Google Analytics Data Practices
• Mapbox — for rendering interactive maps. Mapbox Privacy Policy

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

When you first visit NZ Trails, you will see a cookie consent banner allowing you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the website footer.

4.1 Browser Controls

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View and delete existing cookies
• Block all cookies or only third-party cookies
• Set preferences for specific websites
• Configure the browser to notify you when a cookie is set

Please note that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of our website and prevent certain features from working correctly.

4.2 Opting Out of Personalised Advertising

You can opt out of personalised advertising through:

• Google Ads Settings
• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out
• Your Online Choices (EU)
• Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out

5. Google AdSense & Consent

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our website. Google uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website and other websites. When you decline advertising cookies, Google will only show non-personalised ads that are not based on your browsing history.

For more information about how Google uses data, visit: How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps.

6. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We encourage you to revisit this page periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us.