Explore Programme Terms and Conditions

1 Introduction

 

1.1 These Explore Programme Terms and Conditions, once accepted by you in accordance with clause 1.2 below, are intended to create a binding contract (‘Agreement’)between you (‘Tourism Operator’ ‘you’, ‘your’) and the New Zealand Tourism Board trading as Tourism New Zealand (‘TNZ’, ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’).

1.2 Participation: Your participation in the Tourism New Zealand’s Explore New Zealand Programme (‘Explore Programme’) is conditional on your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you acknowledge that you are bound by these terms and the terms available at https://www.newzealand.com/nz/utilities/terms-and-conditions/ relating to listings on the Tourism Business Database related to www.newzealand.com (‘NewZealand.com Terms’), which are incorporated by reference into this Agreement. You must confirm your acceptance of the Agreement by clicking the ‘I ACCEPT’ checkbox.

 

2 International Focus

2.1 The Explore Programme is aimed at tourism operators that understand and are active in international markets. Indicators of an International Focus include, but are not limited to:

a the offering of agents commission;

b attendance at TRENZ or offshore travel trade events;

c Qualmark licencing;

d membership of the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand or its affiliates;

e membership of a Regional Tourism Organisation;

f hosting of travel agents through TNZ or wholesaler famils;

g the maintenance of New Zealand or offshore toll free numbers;

h offering secure online booking; and

i accreditation to national or international safety standards organisations.

 

3 Application to participate in the Explore Programme

3.1 Pre-requisites: To participate in the Explore Programme you must:

a hold Qualmark status;

b be one of the ‘Business Types’ listed on the Tourism Business Database in accordance with the NewZealand.com Terms;

c offer goods and services in New Zealand;

d have been, and continue to be, accepted by TNZ to be featured on the Tourism Business Database at www.newzealand.com in accordance with the NewZealand.com Terms;

e have an International Focus, as defined in Section 2 above, as determined by TNZ in its discretion;

f apply to participate in the Explore Programme by providing all information that TNZ requests; and

g be accepted by TNZ to participate in the Explore Programme in accordance with clause 3.2 below.

3.2 Acceptance by TNZ: TNZ may accept or reject applications to participate in the Explore Programme at its discretion. If TNZ accepts your application, TNZ will notify you accordingly.

3.3 Removal of Tourism Operators: TNZ reserves the right to remove you from the Explore Programme and remove any Offers you have listed with the Explore Programme if you fail to fulfil the requirements set out in clause 3.1 at any time.

 

4 Operation of the Explore Programme

4.1 Offers: Once you have been accepted to participate in the Explore Programme in accordance with clause 3.2 above, you are eligible to submit discount offers for publication on the Explore Programme feature on www.traveltrade.newzealand.com (’Offer’).

4.2 Offer approval: TNZ may accept or reject Offers in its absolute discretion. Once you have submitted an Offer, TNZ will undertake an approval procedure under which TNZ will endeavour to check and validate the Offer to confirm that:

a the information relating to the Offer has been properly entered;

b there are no obvious data input or categorisation errors; and

c the Offer complies with the criteria set out in 4.3 below.

TNZ will inform you regarding the acceptance or rejection of an Offer, or of any changes required to an Offer in order for it to be accepted.

4.3 Explore Offers: Offers must:

a relate to goods or services that are delivered in New Zealand;

b relate to goods or services that are available throughout the year or at least half of the

year, such as the ski season (Explore Programme is not suitable for offers relating to goods or services which may only be redeemed on one specific day of the year, or on a one-off basis);

c be specific to one product or service;

d not relate to English as a second language or outdoor education courses;

e provide a substantial discount, as explained in 4.4 below;

f not relate to an already free event or activity unless other incentives (such as free food, gifts or guided tours) are made available through the Offer; and

g relate to one day activities (Explore Programme is not suitable for multi-day activities).

If TNZ considers, in its absolute discretion, that an Offer does not meet the criteria set out above, the Offer will not be validated and therefore will not be accepted for publication on the Explore Programme feature.

4.4 Discounts: Each Offer must provide a substantial discount below normal advertised prices for the goods or services offered. If TNZ considers that a discount submitted in an Offer is nominal, and will therefore not attract accredited travel agents, it will not be validated.

4.5 Explore New Zealand Pass: You must make Offers available for purchase by all offshore travel agents who are visiting New Zealand and have been provided with an Explore New Zealand Pass Unique Identifier (‘Explore New Zealand Pass’ and together ‘Explore New Zealand Passholder’) in accordance with clause 4.7 below. Offers must be provided in accordance with the terms in clause 4.6 below.

4.6 Offer timing: You must honour Offers for at least 365 days from the date the Offer was listed on www.traveltrade.newzealand.com (with the exception of any block out dates you have specified within your Offer) (‘Offer Period’). Before the end of the Offer Period, you must notify TNZ in writing of your intention that an Offer will expire at the end of the Offer Period. Unless TNZ receives such notification, the Offer Period will continue for another 365 days.

4.7 Validation: Only validated Explore New Zealand Passholders will be eligible to claim Offers through the Explore Programme. TNZ will endeavour to validate Explore New Zealand Pass applications through its offshore offices before applicants travel to New Zealand. This process includes, in the case of a travel agent, confirming with a travel agent’s manager that they are currently working at that travel agency.

4.8 Cost: You will not be charged by Tourism New Zealand for listing an Offer with the Explore Programme. The consideration by you is agreeing to honour the Offer with Explore New Zealand Cardholders.

4.9 Extending Offers: You may decide at your discretion whether or not you wish to extend an Offer to travel agents who are not Explore New Zealand Passholders (and have therefore not been vetted by TNZ). You have no obligation to extend offers in this manner.

4.10 Offer removal: Tourism New Zealand reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to remove an Offer from its website.

 

5 Tourism Operators responsibilities

5.1 Required actions: You must:

a honour all Offers listed with the Explore Programme in accordance with clause 4.6;

b provide goods, services and discounts in accordance with the terms of any published Offer;

c provide high quality goods and services, in compliance with all applicable laws, and that continue to comply with the requirements of attaining and maintaining Qualmark Gold status; and

d represent New Zealand in a positive light.

5.2 Prohibited actions: You must not act in a manner that may:

a tarnish the reputation of New Zealand as a tourism destination or TNZ; or

b mislead TNZ or Explore Zealand Pass holders.

 

6 Account

6.1 Account creation: You agree to provide accurate and complete information when you register with, and as you participate in, the Explore Programme (‘Registration Data’), and you agree to update your Registration Data to keep it accurate and complete. You agree that TNZ may store and use any Registration Data you provide to operate and maintain an account for your participation in the Explore Programme (‘Account’), in accordance with clause 10.8.

6.2 Offer confirmation: You must log in to your Account at least once every twelve months to keep your Account active. TNZ reserves the right to remove listings for Offers that have not been accessed for longer than twelve months. TNZ will endeavour to contact you prior to removing an Offer.

6.3 Account responsibilities: You must not reveal information regarding your Account to anyone else. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your Account and for all activities that occur on or through your Account. You agree to notify TNZ immediately of any breach of security related to your Account. TNZ shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising out of any unauthorised use of your Account.

 

7 Warranties and guarantees

7.1Warranties: You warrant and represent that:

a you have the authority to enter into this Agreement including authority to enter to this Agreement from any organisation on whose behalf you are entering into this Agreement; and

b you are, and will at all times be, compliant with clause 5 of these Terms and Conditions and all laws applicable to your provision of any goods and services that are the subject of Offers listed with the Explore Programme.

7.2 Exclusion of warranties: While TNZ endeavours to ensure that the information it publishes relating to the Explore Programme is free from errors, TNZ does not give any warranty or other assurance as to the content of information provided.  If you become aware of any error please notify us as soon as practicable for TNZ to correct it. To the maximum extent permitted by law, TNZ provides the Explore Programme feature on traveltrade.newzealand.com(opens in new window), and related information, material, content, and services, on an ‘as is’ basis without any warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind (whether, express, implied, statutory or otherwise) as to the functioning or availability of the Explore Programme feature or TNZ’s website at traveltrade.newzealand.com(opens in new window). You also acknowledge and agree that TNZ does not give any warranty or representation that you will receive any level of business, revenue or other benefit in connection with your use of the Explore Programme feature and your publication of Offers.

7.3 Consumer Guarantees Act: You acknowledge that you are participating in the Explore Programme and receiving associated services from TNZ for the purposes of a business and this programme and the services to you are not of a kind to which the guarantees provided in the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 apply.

 

8 Liability and indemnity

8.1 Exclusion of liability: To the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event shall TNZ be liable for any incidental, special, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever, or for any loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business opportunity, or for any other commercial damages or financial losses, arising out of or related to your participation in or inability to participate in the Explore Programme, however caused, regardless of the theory of liability (contract, tort, breach of statutory duty, or otherwise) even if TNZ has been advised of the possibility of such damages or losses.

8.2 Time limit: You and TNZ agree that any cause of action brought by either party arising out of or relating to your participation in the Explore Programme must commence within one (1) year after the date on which the cause of action accrues.

8.3 Indemnity: Your participation in the Explore Programme is voluntary. You hereby indemnify TNZ and its affiliates, distributors, licensors, and agents, and all of its and their directors or board members, employees, and agents against, and hold them harmless from, any and all lawsuits, claims, expenses (including reasonable legal fees), settlements, damages, judgments and the like arising from your participation in the Explore Programme including without limitation any claims from third parties arising from your provision of any goods and services that are the subject of Offers listed with the Explore Programme.

 

9 Term and termination

9.1 Term: This Agreement shall commence when accepted by TNZ and shall continue for an initial period of 1 (one) year from the date of the latest Offer submitted by you (‘Initial Term’) unless sooner terminated by TNZ in accordance with this Agreement. If you wish to terminate this Agreement at the end of the Initial Term, you must notify TNZ in writing no less than 30 days before the end of the Initial Term. If TNZ does not receive notice of termination from you, this Agreement will automatically renew for another year (‘Renewal Period’).

9.2 Termination by TNZ: In addition to TNZ’s rights under clauses 3.3 and 4.10, TNZ may terminate this Agreement (i) immediately at any time if you breach any term of this Agreement, and/or  (ii) without cause by giving you not less than 30 days written notice.

9.3 Survival: All causes of action and any provisions, which by their terms are intended to survive termination, shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

10 General

10.1 Notices: Correspondence to TNZ (including any notices given in accordance with clauses 4.6, 6.3 and 9.1) must be sent by email to traveltrade@tnz.govt.nz. TNZ may give you notices by sending an email message to any email address provided by you to TNZ when creating your Account, or by a posting on TNZ’s Websites.

10.2 Waiver: Any waiver by TNZ of a breach of or right under this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or right.

10.3 Independent Contractors: You are acting as an independent contractor when participating in the Explore Programme. No partnership, joint venture or agency arrangement is created between you and TNZ.

10.4 Interpretation: Headings are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement. The singular includes the plural and vice versa.

10.5 Advertisements: You acknowledge that TNZ does not necessarily endorse or recommend any of the goods or services advertised on or through TNZ’s websites nor any Tourism Operators in the Explore Programme.  You will not represent that TNZ endorses or recommends you.

10.6 Changes: We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions from time to time by publishing the changed terms on our website at https://www.newzealand.com/int/utilities/explore-programme-terms-and-conditions/ or notifying them to you at the contact details supplied when you created your Account. You should review these terms of use periodically to be aware of such changes. Your continuing access or use of the Explore New Zealand feature following such publication or notification shall be deemed your acceptance of the revised terms of use, provided that any changes will only apply to you when you list a new Offer or alter an existing Offer following publication of these changes (and any unaltered existing Offers will be governed by the terms applicable when those Offers were published)..

10.7 Website terms: All use of TNZ’s website at www.newzealand.com or www.traveltrade.newzealand.com is subject to TNZ’s website terms of use at https://www.newzealand.com/nz/utilities/terms-of-use/ (‘Website Terms’). Accordingly, this Agreement must be read in conjunction with the Website Terms, although the terms of this Agreement will take precedence over the Website Terms to the extent of any inconsistency.

10.8 Privacy: Where we collect your personal information (or you provide us with personal information of other individuals) in relation to the Explore Programme, our Privacy Policy will apply to that information. In such cases, this Agreement must be read in conjunction with our trade website Privacy Policy available at https://traveltrade.newzealand.com/privacy-agreement/

10.9 Governing law: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of New Zealand. The parties shall submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts and agree that the courts of New Zealand are a convenient forum for the purpose of hearing any dispute in relation to this Agreement.