Terms & Conditions

The Local Loop’s role

The Local Loop is a platform that helps members discover and connect with other people and businesses who may be interested in exchanging skills, services or other agreed value.

We facilitate introductions only. We are not a party to any exchange, agreement, transaction or later paid engagement between members, and we don’t act as an employer, agent, contractor or representative of any member.

Your choices, your responsibility

You choose who you connect and exchange with, at your own discretion and risk.

Before an exchange begins, agree between yourselves what will be provided, the scope and approximate value, timing, expectations and any other relevant conditions. It’s also up to you to carry out any checks you consider appropriate before engaging another member.

Qualifications, licences and insurance

We don’t independently guarantee or verify the identity, experience, qualifications, licences, registrations, insurance, safety, reliability or quality of members or their services.

Members are responsible for holding any qualifications, licences, permits, registrations or insurance needed to provide their service legally and safely.

Paid work

Connections made through the Loop may naturally lead to paid work — that’s completely fine. Any paid engagement is a separate arrangement directly between the members involved, and is not provided, managed or guaranteed by The Local Loop.

Tax and business obligations

You’re responsible for your own tax, GST, invoicing, insurance, health and safety, professional and other legal or business obligations arising from exchanges or later paid work. Even where no money changes hands, an exchange may still need to be recorded — if you’re unsure, check with your accountant or Inland Revenue.

Disputes between members

Any agreement or exchange is between the members involved. Please resolve disagreements about scope, quality, timing, value or completion directly with one another.

We’re not required to mediate or resolve disputes, but you can always report inappropriate behaviour or a concerning experience to us. We may review reports and take action where needed to protect the community, including restricting, suspending or removing accounts.

No guarantee of matches or outcomes

Membership doesn’t guarantee connections, exchanges, enquiries, paid work or any particular financial or other benefit.

Acceptable use

Taking part means following The Loop Code. Don’t use The Local Loop for illegal, unsafe, fraudulent, discriminatory, harassing or sexually explicit products, services, activities or content, or in any way that could reasonably harm another member or the community.

That includes no cold selling, mass promotion or unsolicited pitching. Member information you see inside your Loop is private — please don’t share, publish or add it to a marketing list.

Reviews and member content

Reviews should reflect genuine experiences. Please don’t submit content that is knowingly false, misleading, defamatory, discriminatory, abusive, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate for the community.

We may moderate or remove profiles, listings, reviews or other content that breaches these Terms or the community guidelines.

Membership and removal

You must be at least 18 years old to register for and use The Local Loop. Please keep your profile honest and up to date, and only register yourself or a business you’re entitled to represent.

Registrations may be reviewed before approval. We may decline a registration, or restrict, suspend or remove an account, where reasonably necessary to protect the community, enforce these Terms, address inappropriate behaviour or keep the Loop true to its purpose.

Places may be limited. If you haven’t logged in, connected, recorded an exchange or left a review for around three months, we may check in to see whether you’d still like to take part. You can choose to release your place so someone on the waiting list can join.

Account security

Keep your login details secure, and let us know if you think your account has been accessed without permission.

Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by New Zealand law, The Local Loop is not responsible or liable for any loss, damage, injury, cost, claim or other consequence arising from an introduction, communication, meeting, exchange, service, product or other arrangement between members.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any rights or obligations that cannot legally be excluded or limited under New Zealand law.

Platform availability

The Local Loop is evolving. Features may be added, changed, suspended or removed, and we can’t guarantee uninterrupted access.

Intellectual property

You keep ownership of the content you provide, and give us permission to display and use it as reasonably necessary to run the platform.

The Local Loop’s branding, website content and other original materials remain ours and may not be reproduced or used commercially without permission.

Privacy

Personal information is handled in line with The Local Loop Privacy Policy and applicable New Zealand privacy law.

Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms as the platform develops. Where changes are material, we’ll let members know and, where appropriate, ask you to accept the updated Terms before continuing. The version you agreed to is recorded when you join.

New Zealand law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand.