Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 September 2026

Welcome to Homegrown Happiness (https://homegrownhappiness.com).

Homegrown Happiness is a food and recipe website operated from New Zealand by Elien Lewis.

This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored and shared when you visit this website, subscribe to communications, leave comments or otherwise interact with its content.

By using this website, you acknowledge the information provided in this Privacy Policy. Where consent is required by applicable law, we will seek that consent separately.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with Homegrown Happiness, we may collect the following information:

Information you provide voluntarily:

  • Your name and email address when contacting us.
  • Information submitted through comments or contact forms.
  • Your email address when subscribing to newsletters or other communications.
  • Any other information you choose to provide.

Information collected automatically:

  • IP address and approximate geographical location.
  • Browser type, operating system and device information.
  • Pages visited and time spent on the website.
  • Referring websites and interactions with website content.
  • Cookie identifiers and similar tracking information.

Some information may be collected directly by third-party services operating on this website.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use collected information to:

  • Operate, maintain and improve the website.
  • Respond to enquiries and comments.
  • Send newsletters or updates when requested.
  • Understand website traffic and visitor behaviour.
  • Display advertising and measure advertising performance.
  • Detect spam, fraud and security threats.
  • Meet applicable legal obligations.

We only use personal information for purposes permitted by applicable law.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Homegrown Happiness uses cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, analyse traffic and display advertising.

Cookies are small files stored on your device. Some are necessary for website functionality, while others support analytics, advertising and personalisation.

Third-party services may also use cookies, pixels, tags and similar technologies.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and, where available, through the privacy and consent controls displayed on this website.

Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. Rejecting personalised advertising does not necessarily prevent advertisements from appearing.

Where required by applicable law, non-essential tracking will be subject to the appropriate consent or opt-out controls.

4. Advertising

Homegrown Happiness works with Raptive to display advertisements.

CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a Raptive (“Raptive”) is a service provider of this Site for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Raptive will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Raptive’s data usage, click here: https://raptive.com/creator-advertising-privacy-statement

Raptive and its advertising partners may collect and process information in connection with advertising, subject to applicable privacy laws and available privacy controls.

5. Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a service provided by Google, to understand how visitors use the website.

Google Analytics may collect information including device details, approximate location, pages visited, referral sources and interactions with website content.

This information helps us understand website performance and improve our content.

For more information about Google’s data practices, visit:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

You can also learn about Google Analytics opt-out options at:

https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Where required, Google Analytics tracking will be managed through the website’s applicable consent controls.

6. Email Subscriptions

If you subscribe to email communications, we collect your email address and any additional information you voluntarily provide.

This information is used to send the communications you requested.

Email communications may contain tracking technologies that help measure engagement, such as whether an email has been opened or a link clicked.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.

We do not use your newsletter subscription as permission to send unrelated communications.

7. Comments and Contact Forms

When visitors leave comments, we may collect the information entered in the comment form, together with technical information used to identify and prevent spam.

Comments may be publicly visible, including the name you provide.

Information submitted through contact forms is used to respond to enquiries and maintain relevant correspondence.

Please avoid submitting sensitive personal information through public comments.

8. Affiliate Links and External Websites

Some articles contain affiliate links

If you click an affiliate link, the relevant third-party website or affiliate network may use cookies or other tracking technologies to attribute purchases and calculate commissions.

Homegrown Happiness does not control the privacy practices of external websites.

We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing personal information.

9. Sharing and International Transfers

Information may be processed by third-party service providers that support website hosting, analytics, advertising, email communications, security and other website functions.

These providers may operate outside New Zealand, including in the United States and other countries.

Where applicable, we take reasonable steps to ensure that international disclosures and transfers comply with relevant privacy requirements.

We may also disclose information where required by law or where reasonably necessary to protect the website, its users or our legal rights.

We do not own or control external websites or their independent privacy practices. We cannot guarantee how these third parties collect, use, store, or share information. We encourage visitors to review their respective privacy policies before providing personal information. This does not affect any responsibilities we have under applicable privacy laws.

10. Data Retention and Security

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, subject to applicable legal obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the service involved.

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse and disclosure.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to:

  • Request access to personal information held about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate information.
  • Request deletion of certain personal information.
  • Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
  • Object to or restrict certain processing activities.
  • Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information or targeted advertising where applicable.

To make a privacy request, please contact us using the details below.

We may need to verify your identity before responding.

United States visitors

Where applicable, visitors may exercise relevant state privacy rights, including opting out of certain advertising-related data uses.

Raptive provides a privacy opt-out mechanism for its advertising activities through the website’s advertising technology.

European Economic Area and United Kingdom visitors

Where applicable, visitors may have additional rights under the GDPR or UK GDPR, including rights relating to access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection and data portability.

Visitors may also have the right to complain to their relevant data protection authority.

New Zealand visitors

New Zealand visitors may request access to and correction of their personal information under the Privacy Act 2020.

Privacy complaints may also be raised with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

12. Children’s Privacy

Homegrown Happiness is intended for a general audience and is not specifically directed at children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can investigate and take appropriate action.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to website operations, third-party services or applicable legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on this page with an updated revision date.

14. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy or requests concerning your personal information, please contact:

Elien Lewis
Homegrown Happiness
New Zealand

Email: elien@homegrownhappiness.com

Website: https://homegrownhappiness.com