Tuffnell (2017) Limited T/A Tuffnell Plumbing Drainage & Gas – Terms & Conditions of Trade

1. Definitions

1. “Contract” means the terms and conditions contained herein, together with any quotation, order, invoice or other document or amendments expressed to be supplemental to this Contract.
2. “Contractor” means Tuffnell (2017) Limited T/A Tuffnell Plumbing Drainage & Gas, its successors and assigns or by its duly appointed licensees Chris Downey (licence number 22488) any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of Tuffnell (2017) Limited T/A Tuffnell Plumbing Drainage & Gas.
3. “Customer” means the person/s, entities or any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of the Customer requesting the Contractor to provide the Works as specified in any proposal, quotation, order, invoice or other documentation, and:
   1. if there is more than one Customer, is a reference to each Customer jointly and severally; and
   2. if the Customer is a partnership, it shall bind each partner jointly and severally; and
   3. if the Customer is a part of a trust, shall be bound in their capacity as a trustee; and
   4. includes the Customer’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns.
4. “Works” means all Works (including consultation, manufacturing and/or installation services) or Materials supplied by the Contractor to the Customer at the Customer’s request from time to time (where the context permits the terms ‘Works’ or ‘Materials’ shall be interchangeable for the other).
5. “Price” means the Price payable (plus any Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) where applicable) for the Works as agreed between the Contractor and the Customer in accordance with clause 4 below.

2. Acceptance

1. The Customer is taken to have exclusively accepted and is immediately bound, jointly and severally, by these terms and conditions if the Customer places an order for or accepts delivery of any Works.
2. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Contract and any other prior document or schedule that the parties have entered into, the terms of this Contract shall prevail.
3. Any amendment to the terms and conditions contained in this Contract may only be amended in writing by the consent of both parties.
4. The Customer acknowledges that the supply of Works on credit shall not take effect until the Customer has completed a credit application with the Contractor and it has been approved with a credit limit established for the account.
5. In the event that the supply of Works requested exceeds the Customer’s credit limit and/or the account exceeds the payment terms, the Contractor reserves the right to refuse delivery.
6. Where the Customer is a tenant (and therefore not the owner of the land and premises where Works are to be carried out) then the Customer warrants that they have obtained the full consent of the owner for the Contractor to carry out the Works on the owner’s land and premises. The Customer acknowledges and agrees that they shall be personally liable for full payment of the Price for the Works provided under this Contract and to indemnify the Contractor against any claim made by the owner of the premises (howsoever arising) in relation to the provision of the Works by the Contractor, except where such claim has arisen because of the negligence of the Contractor when undertaking the Works. Furthermore, the Customer agrees that they shall, upon request from the Contractor, provide evidence that:
   1. they are the owner of the land and premises upon which the Works are to be undertaken; or
   2. where they are a tenant, that they have the consent of the owner for the Works to be carried out on the land and premises.
7. In the event that the Contractor is required to provide the Works urgently, that may require the Contractor’s staff to work outside normal business hours (including but not limited to working through lunch breaks, weekends and/or Public Holidays) then the Contractor reserves the right to charge the Customer additional labour costs (penalty rate will apply at time and a half normal rates), unless otherwise agreed between the Contractor and the Customer.
8. Electronic signatures shall be deemed to be accepted by either party providing that the parties have complied with Section 226 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 or any other applicable provisions of that Act or any Regulations referred to in that Act.

3. Change in Control

1. The Customer shall give the Contractor not less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice of any proposed change of ownership of the Customer and/or any other change in the Customer’s details (including but not limited to, changes in the Customer’s name, address, contact phone or fax number/s, change of trustees, or business practice). The Customer shall be liable for any loss incurred by the Contractor as a result of the Customer’s failure to comply with this clause.

4. Price and Payment

1. At the Contractor’s sole discretion the Price shall be either:
   1. as indicated on invoices provided by the Contractor to the Customer in respect of Works performed or Materials supplied; or
   2. the Contractor’s Price at the date of delivery of the Works according to the Contractor’s current pricelist; or
   3. the Contractor’s quoted Price (subject to clause 4.2) which shall be binding upon the Contractor provided that the Customer shall accept the Contractor’s quotation in writing within thirty (30) days.
2. The Contractor reserves the right to change the Price:
   1. if a variation to the Materials which are to be supplied is requested; or
   2. if a variation to the Works originally scheduled (including any applicable plans or specifications) is requested; or
   3. where additional Works are required due to the discovery of hidden or unidentifiable difficulties (including, but not limited to, poor weather conditions, safety limitations to the Worksite access and/or crawl spaces, prerequisite work by a third party not being completed, inaccurate measurements, plans or specifications supplied by the Customer, hard rock or other barriers below the surface, iron reinforcing rods in concrete, or hidden pipes and wiring, etc.) which are only discovered on commencement of the Works; or
   4. in the event of increases to the Contractor in the cost of labour or materials which are beyond the Contractor’s control.
3. Variations will be charged for on the basis of the Contractor’s quotation, and will be detailed in writing, and shown as variations on the Contractor’s invoice. The Customer shall be required to respond to any variation submitted by the Contractor within ten (10) working days. Failure to do so will entitle the Contractor to add the cost of the variation to the Price. Payment for all variations must be made in full at the time of their completion.
4. At the Contractor’s sole discretion a non-refundable deposit may be required.
5. Time for payment for the Works being of the essence, the Price will be payable by the Customer on the date/s determined by the Contractor, which may be:
   1. on completion of the Works;
   2. by way of progress payments in accordance with the Contractor’s specified progress payment schedule. Such progress payment claims may include the reasonable value of authorised variations and the value of Materials delivered to the worksite but not yet installed;
   3. for certain approved Customer’s, due twenty (20) days following the end of the month in which a statement is posted to the Customer’s address or address for notices;
   4. the date specified on any invoice or other form as being the date for payment; or
   5. failing any notice to the contrary, the date which is seven (7) days following the date of any invoice given to the Customer by the Contractor.
6. At the agreement of both parties, payment of the Price may be subject to retention by the Customer of an amount (hereinafter called the “Retention Money”), being a set amount or equal to a percentage of the Price. The Customer shall hold the Retention Money for the agreed period following completion of the Works during which time all Works are to be completed and/or all defects are to be remedied. Any Retention Money applicable to this Contract is to be dealt with in accordance with Subpart 2A – sections 18(a) to 18(i) of the Construction Contracts Amendment Act 2015 and as such no Retention Money shall be used other than to remedy defects in the performance of the Contractor’s obligations under the Contract. Payment may be made by cheque, bank cheque, electronic/on-line banking, credit card (a surcharge may apply per transaction), or by any other method as agreed to between the Customer and the Contractor.
7. The Contractor may in its discretion allocate any payment received from the Customer towards any invoice that the Contractor determines and may do so at the time of receipt or at any time afterwards. On any default by the Customer the Contractor may re-allocate any payments previously received and allocated. In the absence of any payment allocation by the Contractor, payment will be deemed to be allocated in such manner as preserves the maximum value of the Contractor’s Purchase Money Security Interest (as defined in the PPSA) in the Materials.
8. The Customer shall not be entitled to set off against, or deduct from the Price, any sums owed or claimed to be owed to the Customer by the Contractor nor to withhold payment of any invoice because part of that invoice is in dispute, unless the request for payment by the Contractor is a claim made under the Construction Contracts Act 2002. Nothing in this clause 4.8 prevents the Contractor from the ability to dispute any invoice. Unless otherwise stated the Price does not include GST. In addition to the Price, the Customer must pay to the Contractor an amount equal to any GST the Contractor must pay for any supply by the Contractor under this or any other agreement for the sale of the Materials. The Customer must pay GST, without deduction or set-off of any other amounts, at the same time and on the same basis as the Customer pays the Price. In addition, the Customer must pay any other taxes and duties that may be applicable in addition to the Price except where they are expressly included in the Price.

5. Provision of the Works

1. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the Works start as soon as it is reasonably possible.
2. The Works’ commencement date will be put back and the completion date extended by whatever time is reasonable in the event that the Contractor claims an extension of time (by giving the Customer written notice) where completion is delayed by an event beyond the Contractor’s control, including but not limited to any failure by the Customer to:
   1. make a selection; or
   2. have the Worksite ready for the Works; or
   3. notify the Contractor that the Worksite is ready.
   At the Contractor’s sole discretion, the cost of delivery is either included in the Price or is in addition to the Price.
3. The Contractor may deliver the Works by separate instalments. Each separate instalment shall be invoiced and paid in accordance with the provisions in these terms and conditions.
4. Any time specified by the Contractor for delivery of the Works is an estimate only and the Contractor will not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by the Customer as a result of delivery being late. However, both parties agree that they shall make every endeavour to enable the Works to be supplied at the time and place as was arranged between both parties. In the event that the Contractor is unable to supply the Works as agreed solely due to any action or inaction of the Customer, then the Contractor shall be entitled to charge a reasonable fee for re-supplying the Works at a later time and date, and/or for storage of the Materials.

6. Risk

1. If the Contractor retains ownership of the Materials under clause 8 then:
   1. where the Contractor is supplying Materials only, all risk for the Materials shall immediately pass to the Customer on delivery and the Customer must insure the Materials on or before delivery. Delivery of the Materials shall be deemed to have taken place immediately at the time that either:
      1. the Customer or the Customer’s nominated carrier takes possession of the Materials at the Contractor’s address; or
      2. the Materials are delivered to the Contractor or the Contractor’s nominated carrier to the Customer’s nominated delivery address (even if the Customer is not present at the address).
   2. where the Contractor is to both supply and install Materials then the Contractor shall maintain a contract works insurance policy until the Works are completed. Upon completion of the Works all risk for the Works shall immediately pass to the Customer.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 6.1 if the Customer specifically requests the Contractor to leave Materials outside the Contractor’s premises for collection or to deliver the Materials to an unattended location then such materials shall always be left at sole risk of the Customer and it shall be the Customer’s responsibility to ensure the Materials are insured adequately or at all. In the event that such Materials are lost, damaged or destroyed then replacement of the Materials shall be at the Customer’s expense.
3. The Contractor shall be entitled to rely on the accuracy of any plans, specifications and other information provided by the Customer. The Customer acknowledges and agrees that in the event that any of this information provided by the Customer is inaccurate, the Contractor accepts no responsibility for any loss, damages, or costs however resulting from these inaccurate plans, specifications or other information.
4. Where the Contractor gives advice or recommendations to the Customer, or the Customer’s agent, regarding the suitability of the Worksite for the installation of the Materials or similar works and such advice or recommendations are not acted upon then the Contractor shall require the Customer or their agent to authorise commencement of the Works in writing. The Contractor shall not be liable in any way whatsoever for any damages or losses that occur after any subsequent commencement of the Works.
5. The Customer acknowledges and accepts that:
   1. choked drains generally indicate pipelines are not fully efficient (i.e. breakages, cracks, negative fall or tree root entry); the drain line cannot be repaired or rectified just by clearing it on its own. Once cleared, the Contractor cannot give any guarantee against reoccurrence or further damage. In the event that the Customer requests the Contractor to use drainpipe unblocking equipment (including but not limited to, CCTV camera or an electric eel), and the Contractor does not recommend the use of such equipment due to the risk of the equipment becoming lodged or stuck, the Contractor may require the Customer or their agent to authorise commencement of the Works in writing. If the drainpipe unblocking equipment subsequently becomes lodged or stuck, the Customer shall be responsible for the cost of repair, replacement and/or retrieval of said equipment; and
   2. where the Contractor has performed temporary repairs that:
      1. the Contractor offers no guarantee against the reoccurrence of the initial fault, or any further damage caused; and
      2. the Contractor will immediately advise the Customer of the fault and shall provide the Customer with an estimate for the full repair required; and
      3. the Contractor is only responsible for temporary repairs and does not at any stage accept any liability in respect of previous goods and/or services supplied by any other third party that subsequently fail and found to be the source of the failure; and
      4. under no circumstances will the Contractor handle removal of asbestos product. In the event asbestos (or other hazardous material) is discovered on the Worksite:
         1. the Contractor shall suspend the Works; and
         2. the Customer shall be fully responsible for the resolution of any resulting problems; and
         3. any additional cost incurred by the Contractor shall be added to the Price under clause 4.2; and
   3. Materials supplied may:
      1. exhibit variations in shade, colour, texture, surface and finish, and may fade or change colour over time. The Contractor will make every effort to match batches of product supplied in order to minimise such variations but shall not be liable in any way whatsoever where such variations occur; and
      2. expand, contract or distort as a result of exposure to heat, cold, weather; and
      3. mark or stain if exposed to certain substances; and
      4. be damaged or disfigured by impact or scratching; and
      5. create undesirable smells caused by a system as a result of its normal operation.
6. The Contractor is not insured to remove furniture or fittings and will not do so, nor is the Contractor licensed to move electrical equipment.
7. Where the Contractor requires that Materials, tools etc. required for the Works be stored at the Worksite, the Customer shall supply the Contractor a safe area for storage and shall take all reasonable efforts to protect all items from destruction, theft or damage. In the event that any of the stored items are destroyed, stolen or damaged, then the cost of repair or replacement shall be the Customer’s responsibility.

7. Access

1. The Customer shall ensure that the Contractor has clear and free access to the Worksite at all times to enable them to undertake the Works. The Contractor shall not be liable for any loss or damage to the Worksite (including, without limitation, damage to pathways, driveways and concreted or paved or grassed areas), unless due to the negligence of the Contractor.
2. In the event the Customer requires an employee or sub-contractor of the Contractor to undertake a Worksite induction during working hours, the Customer will be liable to pay the hourly charges for that period. If any induction needs to be undertaken prior to the commencement date then the Customer shall be liable to pay the Contractor’s standard [and/or overtime, if applicable] hourly labour rate; or
3. where the Contractor is in control of the Worksite, the Customer and/or the Customers third party contractors must initially carry out the Contractor’s Health & Safety induction course before access to the Worksite will be granted. Inspection of the Worksite during the course of the Works will be by appointment only and unless otherwise agreed, in such an event the Customer and/or third party acting on behalf of the Customer must at all times be accompanied by the Contractor.
   1. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that it is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that a safety fence is erected around the perimeter of the Worksite to ensure public safety.

8. Underground Locations

1. Prior to the Contractor commencing any work the Customer must advise the Contractor of the precise location of all underground services on the Worksite and clearly mark the same. The underground mains and services the Customer must identify include, but are not limited to, electrical services, gas services, sewer services, pumping services, sewer connections, sewer sludge mains, water mains, irrigation pipes, telephone cables, fibre optic cables, oil pumping mains, and any other services that may be on the Worksite. Whilst the Contractor will take all care to avoid damage to any underground services the Customer agrees to indemnify the Contractor in respect of all and any liability claims, loss, damage, costs and fines as a result of damage to services not precisely located and notified as per clause 8.1.

9. Compliance with Laws

1. The Customer and the Contractor shall comply with the provisions of all statutes, regulations and bylaws of government, local and other public authorities that may be applicable to the Works, including any WorkSafe health and safety laws relating to or any other relevant safety standards or legislation pertaining to the Works. Both parties acknowledge and agree:
   1. to comply with the Building Act 2004 (including any subsequent Amendments), in respect of all workmanship and building products to be supplied during the course of the Works; and
   2. that Works will be provided in accordance with any current relevant Australian/New Zealand Standards applicable.
2. Where the Customer has supplied products for the Contractor to complete the Works, the Customer acknowledges that it accepts responsibility for the suitability of purpose and use for their products and the Intended Use and any faults inherent in these products. However, if in the Contractor’s opinion, it is believed that the materials supplied are non-conforming products and will not conform with New Zealand regulations, then the Contractor shall be entitled, without prejudice, to halt the Works until the appropriate conforming products are sourced and all costs associated with such a change to the plans and design will be invoiced in accordance with clause 4.2.
3. The Customer shall obtain (at the expense of the Customer) all licenses and approvals that may be required for the Works.
4. Prior to commencement of any Works the Contractor shall carry a routine soundness test of the Worksite to ensure there are not any gas leaks in the existing pipework. In the event of such a discovery the Contractor where necessary will have the gas supply capped-off until the fault is found and repaired at the Customer’s expense. The Customer acknowledges and accepts that in instances where the gas supply is turned off at the meter or bottles by the Contractor in order to carry out the soundness test that parts within a gas appliance may fail due to not being turned off and serviced for a long period of time including, thermocouples, blocked pilot tubes, and SIT valves on pilot assemblies. Any costs associated with such an event shall be borne by the Customer.

10. Title

1. The Contractor and the Customer agree that ownership of the Materials shall not pass until:
   1. the Customer has paid the Contractor all amounts owing to the Contractor; and
   2. the Customer has met all of its other obligations to the Contractor.
   Receipt by the Contractor of any form of payment other than cash shall not be deemed to be payment until that form of payment has been honoured, cleared or recognised.

   It is further agreed that:

   1. until ownership of the Materials passes to the Customer in accordance with clause 10.1 that the Customer is only a bailee of the Materials and unless the Materials have become fixtures must return the Materials to the Contractor on request;
   2. the Customer holds the benefit of the Customer’s insurance of the Materials on trust for the Contractor and must pay to the Contractor the proceeds of any insurance in the event of the Materials being lost, damaged or destroyed;
   3. the production of these terms and conditions by the Contractor shall be sufficient evidence of the Contractor’s rights to receive the insurance proceeds direct from the insurer without the need for any person dealing with the Contractor to make further enquiries;
   4. the Customer must not sell, dispose, or otherwise part with possession of the Materials other than in the ordinary course of business and for market value. If the Customer sells, disposes or parts with possession of the Materials then the Customer must hold the proceeds of any such act on trust for the Contractor and must pay or deliver the proceeds to the Contractor on demand;
   5. the Customer should not convert or process the Materials or intermix them with other goods but if the Customer does so then the Customer holds the resulting product on trust for the benefit of the Contractor and must sell, dispose of or return the resulting product to the Contractor as it so directs;
   6. unless the Materials have become fixtures the Customer irrevocably authorises the Contractor to enter any premises where the Contractor believes the Materials are kept and recover possession of the Materials;
   7. the Contractor may recover possession of any Materials in transit whether or not delivery has occurred;
   8. the Customer shall not charge or grant an encumbrance over the Materials nor grant nor otherwise give away any interest in the Materials while they remain the property of the Contractor; and
   9. the Contractor may commence proceedings to recover the Price of the Materials sold notwithstanding that ownership of the Materials has not passed to the Customer.

11. Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (“PPSA”)

1. Upon assenting to these terms and conditions in writing the Customer acknowledges and agrees that:
   1. these terms and conditions constitute a security agreement for the purposes of the PPSA; and
   2. a security interest is taken in all Materials and/or collateral (account) – being a monetary obligation of the Customer to the Contractor for Works – that have previously been supplied and that will be supplied in the future by the Contractor to the Customer.
2. The Customer undertakes to:
   1. sign any further documents and/or provide any further information (such information to be complete, accurate and up-to-date in all respects) which the Contractor may reasonably require to register a financing statement or financing change statement on the Personal Property Securities Register;
   2. indemnify, and upon demand reimburse, the Contractor for all expenses incurred in registering a financing statement or financing change statement on the Personal Property Securities Register or releasing any Materials charged thereby;
   3. not register, or permit to be registered, a financing statement or a financing change statement in relation to the Materials and/or collateral (account) in favour of a third party without the prior written consent of the Contractor; and
   4. immediately advise the Contractor of any material change in its business practices of selling Materials which would result in a change in the nature of proceeds derived from such sales.
3. The Contractor and the Customer agree that nothing in sections 114(1)(a), 133 and 134 of the PPSA shall apply to these terms and conditions.
4. The Customer waives its rights as a debtor under sections 116, 120(2), 121, 125, 126, 127, 129, and 131 of the PPSA.
5. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Contractor, the Customer waives its right to receive a verification statement in accordance with section 148 of the PPSA.
6. The Customer shall unconditionally ratify any actions taken by the Contractor under clauses 11.1 to 11.5.
7. Subject to any express provisions to the contrary (including those contained in this clause 11), nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to have the effect of contracting out of any of the provisions of the PPSA.

12. Security and Charge

1. In consideration of the Contractor agreeing to supply the Works, the Customer charges all of its rights, title and interest (whether joint or several) in any land, realty or other assets capable of being charged, owned by the Customer either now or in the future, to secure the performance by the Customer of its obligations under these terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, the payment of any money).
2. The Customer indemnifies the Contractor from and against all the Contractor’s costs and disbursements including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis incurred in exercising the Contractor’s rights under this clause.
3. The Customer irrevocably appoints the Contractor and each director of the Contractor as the Customer’s true and lawful attorney/s to perform all necessary acts to give effect to the provisions of this clause 12 including, but not limited to, signing any document on the Customer’s behalf.

13. Defects in Materials

1. The Customer shall inspect the Materials on delivery and shall within seven (7) days of delivery (time being of the essence) notify the Contractor of any alleged defect, shortage in quantity, damage or failure to comply with the description or quote. The Customer shall afford the Contractor an opportunity to inspect the Materials within a reasonable time following delivery if the Customer believes the Materials are defective in any way. If the Customer shall fail to comply with these provisions the Materials shall be presumed to be free from any defect or damage. For defective Materials, which the Contractor has agreed in writing that the Customer is entitled to reject, the Contractor’s liability is limited to either (at the Contractor’s discretion) replacing the Materials or repairing the Materials.
2. Materials will not be accepted for return other than in accordance with 13.1 above.

14. Returns of Materials

1. Returns will only be accepted provided that:
   1. the Customer has complied with the provisions of clause 13.1; and
   2. the Contractor has agreed in writing to accept the return of the Materials; and
   3. the Materials are returned at the Customer’s cost within seven (7) days of the delivery date; and
   4. the Contractor will not be liable for Materials which have not been stored or used in a proper manner; and
   5. the Materials are returned in the condition in which they were delivered and with all packaging material, brochures and instruction material in as new condition as is reasonably possible in the circumstances.
2. The Contractor will not accept the return of Materials for credit.
3. The Contractor may (in its discretion) accept the return of Materials for credit but this may incur a handling fee of ten percent (10%) of the value of the returned Materials plus any freight.
4. Returned Materials may (at the Contractor’s sole discretion), incur restocking and handling fees.
5. Subject to clause 13.1, non-stocklist items or Materials made to the Customer’s specifications are under no circumstances acceptable for credit or return.

15. Warranties

1. Subject to the conditions of warranty set out in clause 15.2 the Contractor warrants that if any defect in any workmanship of the Contractor becomes apparent and is reported to the Contractor within twelve (12) months of the date of delivery (time being of the essence) then the Contractor will either (at the Contractor’s sole discretion) replace or remedy the workmanship.
2. The conditions applicable to the warranty given by clause 15.1 are:
   1. the warranty shall not cover any defect or damage which may be caused or partly caused by or arise through:
      1. failure on the part of the Customer to properly maintain any Materials; or
      2. failure on the part of the Customer to follow any instructions or guidelines provided by the Contractor; or
      3. any use of any Materials otherwise than for any application specified on a quote or order form; or
      4. the continued use of any Materials after any defect becomes apparent or would have become apparent to a reasonably prudent operator or user; or
      5. fair wear and tear, any accident or act of God.
   2. the warranty shall cease and the Contractor shall thereafter in no circumstances be liable under the terms of the warranty if the workmanship is repaired, altered or overhauled without the Contractor’s consent.
   3. in respect of all claims the Contractor shall not be liable to compensate the Customer for any delay in either replacing or remedying the workmanship or in properly assessing the Customer’s claim.
   For Materials not manufactured by the Contractor, the warranty shall be the current warranty provided by the manufacturer of the Materials. The Contractor shall not be bound by nor be responsible for any term, condition, representation or warranty other than that which is given by the manufacturer of the Materials.

16. Default and Consequences of Default

1. Interest on overdue invoices shall accrue from the date when payment becomes due, until the date of payment, at a rate of two and a half percent (2.5%) per calendar month (and at the Contractor’s sole discretion such interest shall compound monthly at such a rate) after as well as before any judgment.
2. If the Customer owes the Contractor any money the Customer shall indemnify the Contractor from and against all costs and disbursements incurred by the Contractor in recovering the debt (including but not limited to internal administration fees, legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis, the Contractor’s collection agency costs, and bank dishonour fees).
3. Further to any other rights or remedies the Contractor may have under this Contract, if a Customer has made payment to the Contractor, and the transaction is subsequently reversed, the Customer shall be liable for the amount of the reversed transaction, in addition to any further costs incurred by the Contractor under this clause 16, where it can be proven that such reversal is found to be illegal, fraudulent or in contravention to the Customer’s obligations under this Contract. Without prejudice to the Contractor’s other remedies at law, the Contractor shall be entitled to cancel all or any part of any order of the Customer which remains unfulfilled and also amounts owing to the Contractor shall, whether or not due for payment, become immediately payable if:
   1. any money payable to the Contractor becomes overdue, or in the Contractor’s opinion the Customer will be unable to make a payment when it falls due;
   2. the Customer has exceeded any applicable credit limit provided by the Contractor;
   3. the Customer becomes insolvent, convenes a meeting with its creditors or proposes or enters into an arrangement with creditors, or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
   4. a receiver, manager, liquidator (provisional or otherwise) or similar person is appointed in respect of the Customer or any asset of the Customer.

17. Intellectual Property

1. Where the Contractor has designed, drawn, written plans or a schedule of Works, or created any products for the Customer, then the copyright in all such designs, drawings, documents, plans, schedules and products shall remain vested in the Contractor, and shall only be used by the Customer at the Contractor’s discretion. Under no circumstances may such designs, drawings and documents be used without the express written approval of the Contractor.
2. The Customer warrants that all designs, specifications or instructions given to the Contractor will not cause the Contractor to infringe any patent, registered design or trademark in the execution of the Customer’s order and the Customer agrees to indemnify the Contractor against any action taken by a third party against the Contractor in respect of any such infringement.
3. The Customer agrees that the Contractor may (at no cost) use for the purposes of marketing or entry into any competition, any documents, designs, drawings, plans or products which the Contractor has created for the Customer.

18. Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

1. If the Customer is acquiring Materials for the purposes of a trade or business, the Customer acknowledges that the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (“CGA”) do not apply to the supply of Materials by the Contractor to the Customer.

19. Suspension of Works

1. Where the Contract is subject to section 24A of the Construction Contracts Act 2002, the Customer hereby expressly acknowledges that:
   1. the Contractor has the right to suspend work within five (5) working days of written notice of its intent to do so if a payment claim is served on the Customer, and:
      1. the payment is not paid in full by the due date for payment in accordance with sub-clause 4.5 and/or any subsequent amendments or new legislation and no payment schedule has been given by the Customer; or
      2. a scheduled amount stated in a payment schedule issued by the Customer in relation to the payment claim is not paid in full by the due date for its payment; or
      3. the Customer has not complied with an adjudicator’s notice that the Customer must pay an amount to the Contractor by a particular date; and
      4. the Contractor has given written notice to the Customer of its intention to suspend the carrying out of construction work under the construction Contract.
   2. if the Contractor suspends work, it:
      1. is not in breach of Contract; and
      2. is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered, or alleged to be suffered, by the Customer or by any person claiming through the Customer; and
      3. is entitled to an extension of time to complete the Contract; and
      4. keeps its rights under the Contract, including the right to terminate the Contract, and may at any time lift the suspension, even if the amount has not been paid or an adjudicator’s determination has not been complied with.
   3. if the Contractor exercises the right to suspend work, the exercise of that right does not:
      1. affect any rights that would otherwise have been available to the Contractor under the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017; or
      2. enable the Customer to exercise any rights that may otherwise have been available to the Customer under that Act as a direct consequence of the Contractor suspending work under this provision;
   4. due to any act of omission by the Customer, the Customer effectively precludes the Contractor from continuing the Works or performing or complying with the Contractor’s obligations under this Contract, then without prejudice to the Contractor’s other rights and remedies, the Contractor may suspend the Works immediately after serving on the Customer a written notice specifying the payment default or the act, omission or default upon which the suspension of the Works is based. All costs and expenses incurred by the Contractor as a result of such suspension and recommencement shall be payable by the Customer as if they were a variation.
2. If pursuant to any right conferred by this Contract, the Contractor suspends the Works and the default that led to that suspension continues un-remedied subject to clause 20.1 for at least ten (10) working days, the Contractor shall be entitled to terminate the Contract, in accordance with clause 20.

20. Privacy Policy

1. All emails, documents, images or other recorded information held or used by the Contractor is Personal Information as defined and referred to in clause 21.3 and therefore considered confidential. The Contractor acknowledges its obligation in relation to the handling, use, disclosure and processing of personal information pursuant to the Privacy Act 2020 (“the Act”) including Part II of the OECD Guidelines and as set out in Schedule 5A of the Act and any statutory requirements where relevant in a European Economic Area “EEA” under the EU Data Privacy Laws (including the General Data Protection Regulation “GDPR”) (collectively, “EU Data Privacy Laws”). The Contractor acknowledges that in the event it becomes aware of any data breaches and/or disclosure of the Customer’s personal information, held by the Contractor that may result in serious harm to the Customer, the Contractor will notify the Customer in accordance with the Act and/or the GDPR. Any release of such personal information must be in accordance with the Act and the GDPR (where relevant) and must be approved by the Customer by written consent, unless subject to an operation of law. Notwithstanding clause 21.1, privacy limitations will extend to the Contractor in respect of cookies where the Contractor utilises the Contractor’s website to make enquiries. The Contractor agrees to display reference to such cookies and/or similar tracking technologies, such as pixels and web beacons (if applicable), such technology allows the collection of personal information such as the Customer’s:
   1. IP address, browser, email client type and other similar details;
   2. tracking website usage and traffic; and
   3. reports are available to the Contractor when the Contractor sends an email to the Customer, so the Contractor may collect and review that information (collectively personal information”).
   If the Customer consents to the Contractor’s use of cookies on the Contractor’s website and later wishes to withdraw that consent, the Customer may manage and control the Contractor’s privacy controls via the Customer’s web browser, including removing cookies by deleting them from their browser history when exiting the site. The Customer authorises the Contractor or the Contractor’s agent to:
   1. access, collect, retain and use any information about the Customer;
      1. (including, name, address, D.O.B, occupation, driver’s license details, electronic contact [email, Facebook or Twitter details], medical insurance details or next of kin and other contact information [where applicable], previous credit applications, credit history or any overdue fines balance information held by the Ministry of Justice] for the purpose of assessing the Customer’s creditworthiness; or
      2. for the purposes of marketing products and services to the Customer.
   2. disclose information about the Customer, whether collected by the Contractor from the Customer directly or obtained by the Contractor from any other source, to any other credit provider or any credit reporting agency for the purposes of providing or obtaining a credit reference, debt collection or notifying a default by the Customer.
   Where the Customer is an individual the authorities under clause 21.3 are authorities or consents for the purposes of the Privacy Act 2020.
2. The Customer shall have the right to request (by e-mail) from the Contractor, a copy of the personal information about the Customer retained by it and the right to request that the Contractor correct any incorrect personal information about the Customer.
3. The Contractor will disclose personal information stored on the Customer’s request (by e-mail) or if it is no longer required unless it is required in order to fulfil the obligations of this Contract or is required to be maintained and/or stored in accordance with the law.
4. The Customer can make a privacy complaint by contacting the Contractor via e-mail. The Contractor will respond to that complaint within seven (7) days of receipt and will take all reasonable steps to make a decision as to the complaint within twenty (20) days of receipt of the complaint. In the event that the Customer is not satisfied with the resolution provided, the Customer can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner at http://www.privacy.org.nz/complaints/complaints-2/.

21. Cancellation

1. Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies the Contractor may have, if at any time the Customer is in breach of any obligation (including those relating to payment and/or failure to remedy any breach in respect of this Contract within ten (10) working days of receipt by the Customer of such notice) then the Contractor may without notice suspend or terminate the supply of the Works. The Contractor will not be liable to the Customer for any loss or damage the Customer suffers because the Contractor has exercised its rights under this clause.

22. General

1. The terms and conditions of any contract entered into between the Customer and the Contractor apply to and are binding on the Contractor and the Customer.
2. Any dispute or difference arising as to the interpretation of these terms and conditions or as to any matter arising hereunder, shall be submitted to, and settled by, either adjudication in accordance with section 26 of the Construction Contracts Act 2002 and/or by arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996 or its replacement.
3. Any written notice given under this Contract shall be delivered by handing the notice to the other party, in person, leaving it at the address of the other party as stated in this Contract, or by sending it by registered post to the address of the other party as stated in this Contract.
4. The failure by either party to enforce any provision of these terms and conditions shall not be treated as a waiver of that provision, nor shall it affect that party’s right to subsequently enforce that provision. If any provision of these terms and conditions shall be invalid, void, illegal or unenforceable the validity, existence, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected, prejudiced or impaired.
5. These terms and conditions and any contract to which they apply shall be governed by the laws of New Zealand and are subject to the jurisdiction of the Nelson Courts of New Zealand.
6. Except to the extent permitted by law “CGA”, the Contractor shall be under no liability whatsoever to the Customer for any indirect and/or consequential loss and/or expense (including loss of profit) suffered by the Customer arising out of a breach by the Contractor of these terms and conditions (alternatively the Contractor’s liability shall be limited to damages which under no circumstances shall exceed the Price of the Works).
7. The Contractor may license and/or assign all or any part of its rights and/or obligations under this Contract without the Customer’s consent.
8. The Customer cannot license or assign without the written approval of the Contractor.
9. The Contractor may elect to subcontract out any part of the Works but shall not be relieved from any liability or obligation under this Contract by so doing. Furthermore, the Customer agrees and understands that they have no authority to give any instruction to any of the Contractor’s sub-contractors without the authority of the Contractor.
10. The Customer agrees that the Contractor may amend their general terms and conditions for subsequent future contracts with the Customer by disclosing such to the Customer in writing. These changes shall be deemed to take effect from the date on which the Customer accepts such changes, or otherwise at such time as the Customer makes a further request for the Contractor to provide Works to the Customer.
11. Neither party shall be liable for any default due to any act of God, terrorism, strike, lock-out, industrial action, fire, flood, storm, natural or global pandemics and/or the implementation of regulation, directions, rules or measures being enforced by Governments or embargo, including but not limited to, any Government imposed border lockdowns (including, worldwide destination ports), etc. (“Force Majeure”) or other event beyond the reasonable control of either party. Both parties warrant that they have the power to enter into this Contract and have obtained all necessary authorisations to allow them to do so, they are not insolvent and that this Contract creates binding and valid legal obligations on them.