HWT Membership Terms & Conditions

  1. About us
  2. HWT membership terms and conditions

1. Introduction
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism Limited ("Hamilton & Waikato Tourism", “HWT”, "we" or "us") offers a membership programme designed to connect businesses with potential visitors and support the growth of the Waikato region. This programme provides a range of benefits to members, including elevated exposure through our marketing channels, access to resources, and networking opportunities.

2. Eligibility
To be eligible for membership, a business must:

  • Operate within the visitor sector; and
  • Be located within the boundaries of Hamilton & Waikato Tourism’s partnering council boundaries.

Membership Restrictions:

Please note that isites, visitor information centres, Destination Management Organisations, and other destination promotional organisations and businesses are not eligible for membership.

3. Definitions

  • Membership: Your agreement to participate in the Hamilton & Waikato Tourism membership programme.
  • Member: A business or organisation that has joined the Hamilton & Waikato Tourism membership programme.
  • Fee: The annual cost associated with your membership.
  • Personal Information: Any information that identifies you as an individual 

4. Term and Termination

  • The membership term runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
  • We reserve the right to terminate your membership for cause, including breach of agreement, failure to meet required standards, or liquidation of your business, etc.
  • You may terminate your membership at any time by providing written notice.

5. Fees

  • Membership fees are based on employee numbers in your business.
  • An invoice will be provided shortly after closure of registrations, with payment due 20th of the following month.
  • All membership rates quoted are in NZ dollars and exclusive of GST
  • We reserve the right to adjust fees in future and will provide clear communication of any changes.
  • The fee is non-refundable.

6. Your Obligations

  • Members are responsible for creating and managing their business listing on the Tourism New Zealand website - newzealand.com – which automatically loads waikatonz.com.  
  • You are responsible for updating any changes to your business details on your newzealand.com listing (contact information, ownership, etc).
  • Your business must comply with all applicable licenses, permits, and regulations required for your area of operation.
  • You may submit professional images for use in our marketing materials, ensuring you have ownership or usage rights.
  • If displaying our logo, you agree to adhere to our brand guidelines.

7. HWT Obligations

  • We review all membership applications and reserve the right to decline at our sole discretion.
  • We collaborate with members to ensure programme success.
  • We are committed to upholding high destination management standards.
  • We offer communication channels for programme updates, marketing opportunities, and opting out of non-essential communications (e.g., email newsletter).

8. Mutual Obligations

  • Both parties agree to cooperate for the program's benefit and to achieve its objectives.

9. Dispute Resolution

  • We encourage resolving disputes through good faith discussions and negotiation.
  • If a resolution cannot be reached within 10 Business Days, mediation may be pursued.
  • As a last resort, arbitration may be used to settle the dispute.

10. Confidentiality

  • All commercial, personnel and private information shared due to this membership will be kept confidential.

11. Intellectual Property

  • We retain ownership of all intellectual property developed by us during the programme.
  • You retain ownership of your intellectual property and may grant us permission to use it through activities derived from this membership.

12. Variations

  • We reserve the right to update these terms and conditions with clear communication on our website.

13. No Waiver

  • Our failure to enforce a clause does not waive our right to do so in the future.

14. No Partnership

  • This agreement does not create a partnership or agency relationship between us.

15. Privacy Policy

  • Please refer to our full Privacy Policy which outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By accepting these terms and conditions, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the Privacy Policy.

16. Acceptance

  • Your participation as a member constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.