Last updated: 06-05-26 added Regulated Products & Prohibited and high risk goods sections (2E+2F). Also updated all plans available to vendors and their fees in the Success Fees section (2H)
Terms and Conditions of Use of www.thehivenz.co.nz
Acceptance The Use Of www.thehivenz.co.nz Terms and Conditions
Your access to thehivenz.co.nz depends entirely on these Terms and Conditions. By browsing this site, you agree to follow all our rules. You must not use this website for any unlawful or prohibited purpose.
Using this website means you fully accept all terms, conditions, and disclaimers. We update these notices regularly to keep the community safe.
You might not agree with everything written here. If so, you must stop using the Website immediately. Continued use confirms your legal acceptance of our current terms.
We are a marketplace for small businesses across New Zealand. You can enjoy a safe, easy shopping experience with local kiwi brands.
We support small businesses and help them reach their full potential. Our collective forms a positive and strong community.
We have offered wholesale buying and selling since June 2025. These standard terms apply to all wholesale transactions. You should also read our Wholesale Information Page for extra details.
Every seller on this website operates IN TRADE. This includes all people, businesses, or entities listing products. This status ensures you receive protection under New Zealand consumer laws.
When you buy on our website, you enter an agreement directly with the vendor. The Hive NZ acts only as a marketplace. We hold no responsibility for your private contract or agreement.
We take great pride in our vendors and their products. Our team monitors our processes closely to ensure a high standard. We expect buyers and vendors to communicate professionally at all times.
Please use our internal messaging system – you will need to create a customer account – for all communication about issues. We can only help mediate if we can see your conversation. Without a record in our system, we cannot assist with disputes.
Our system lets buyers and vendors talk directly. Anyone can use the Contact Vendor button at any time. However, only registered customers can track orders or message vendors directly from an order.
The Hive’s admin team monitors our open messaging system. You agree not to use this system to bypass our payment process. Do not arrange sales outside of our website to avoid success fees.
Do not share external website links, social media profiles, or email addresses. We forbid sharing these details for any reason.
We take these rules seriously to protect our community. Ignoring these messaging rules will lead to immediate action. We may suspend or remove your account instantly if you breach these terms.
We allow vendors and customers to talk directly through our messaging system. Because of this, we require respect and kindness from everyone. Always use positive communication when talking to others.
You agree not to send rude, illegal, or offensive content. We do not tolerate any form of harassment on our platform.
The Hive reserves the right to hold or delete accounts that breach these expectations. We may do this without an obligation to explain our decision. No refunds will be given if we remove your account for unkind behaviour.
Our team provides this website on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We make no specific promises about the site’s quality or accuracy. Users should not assume the website will meet every specific need.
The Hive NZ is not liable for any indirect or consequential losses. This includes lost profits, lost data, or missed business opportunities. We exclude these liabilities to the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law.
No guarantee is made that the website will always work perfectly. We cannot promise that the site is free of errors or viruses. You use the website and its servers at your own risk.
A. A product fault
B. Product description error or disagreement
C. Product safety
D. Vendor not sending product or order getting lost.
All vendors on The Hive must comply with the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act
We will never ask for or store your credit card details. Please do not enter payment card information into any website forms.
We process all purchases through the secure payment portal Stripe. You do not need to register an account with Stripe to pay. You only need a valid credit or debit card and an email address.
Our team takes your privacy very seriously. We will never sell your name or address to third parties. Access to your details is only shared if you give specific permission. (Fixed “We” repetition)
Our system uses secure, encrypted backups. These tools keep your personal details safe at all times.
Google Analytics helps us study how people use our site. This technology allows us to improve the website for everyone.
You can access and edit your account details at any time. Simply log in to your profile to make changes.
If you want your details to be completely removed from our website, please contact ADMIN
Please read our complete Privacy Policy here
As our website is a marketplace, you are buying directly from small businesses who sell their products/services on our website. Therefore your payment will go directly to the seller.
The Hive does not hold any payments to sellers – they have full control over their order process.
Contact the seller directly if you need a refund or wish to make a complaint. You can do this through your customer account or their store page.
You must keep a record of all communication within our messaging system. This record is vital if we need to mediate a dispute later.
We expect all sellers to follow the Consumer Guarantees Act at all times. This ensures you receive fair treatment and quality products.
Contact The Hive’s Admin if you cannot resolve an issue with a seller. We are not legally responsible or liable for these transactions. However, we are always willing to help mediate a fair outcome.
The contents of www.thehivenz.co.nz website do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon in making or refraining from making, any decision.
www.thehivenz.co.nz reserves the right to:
1.K.1 change or remove (temporarily or permanently) the Website or any part of it without notice and you confirm that www.thehivenz.co.nz shall not be liable to you for any such change or removal.
1.K.2 change these Terms and Conditions at any time, and your continued use of the Website following any changes shall be deemed to be your acceptance of such change.
www.thehivenz.co.nz website may include links to third party websites that are controlled and maintained by others.
Any link to other websites is not an endorsement of such websites and you acknowledge and agree that we are not responsible for the content or availability of any such sites.
All copyright, trademarks, and intellectual property rights on this Website belong to The Hive NZ. This includes the design, text, graphics, and software codes. You may not use these materials without our legal permission.
Independent businesses (Vendors) create their own content on our website. This content is the sole exception to our ownership rules.
The vendor is exclusively responsible for all images, descriptions, and store information. We clearly identify the seller on every listing or store page.
Vendors on The Hive NZ operate as independent sellers. Our platform allows them to list their own products. We do not claim ownership of any vendor products or their associated branding.
We provide a ‘brand’ function to help organize the marketplace. This tool relies entirely on claims made by the vendor. The Hive NZ does not verify or guarantee the legal standing of any brand claim.
Every vendor must ensure their products and branding comply with New Zealand laws. This includes having the right to use any licensed or trademarked materials.
The Hive NZ is not responsible for any breach of intellectual property rights within a vendor’s content. If you find a breach, you must contact the seller directly for resolution.
Please contact us if you fail to resolve an issue with a vendor. Our team will investigate and may take action according to our Vendor Terms.
You may only access our website content for personal, non-commercial use. Do not download, copy, or distribute our content without prior written consent. We do allow you to print pages for personal home use only.
All copyright, trademarks, and all other intellectual property rights in the Website and its content (including without limitation the Website design, text, graphics, and all software and source codes connected with the Website) are owned by or licensed to The Hive NZ or otherwise used by The Hive NZ as permitted by law.
You agree to indemnify and hold www.thehivenz.co.nz and its employees and agents harmless from and against all liabilities, legal fees, damages, losses, costs and other expenses in relation to any claims or actions brought against www.thehivenz.co.nz arising out of any breach by you of these Terms and Conditions or other liabilities arising out of your use of this Website.
If any of these Terms and Conditions should be determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction then such Term or Condition shall be severed and the remaining Terms and Conditions shall survive and remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable.
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of New Zealand and you hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
For any further information please email webmaster
The Hive NZ provides businesses from New Zealand a marketplace to sell products or services.
We vow to support and motivate small business owners where we can with a focus on community and information sharing.
We allow any type of small business to join us on our website as long as they are located in and selling from New Zealand.
The majority of our vendors (approx 95%) sell handmade goods but this is not a requirement to join our website, we believe ANY type of small business is one we want to support!
Obviously any products or services our vendors put on our website should be legal to sell/provide within New Zealand.
From June 2025 we offer wholesale buying and selling on The Hive NZ, all T&C’s here apply as well as the information found on our Wholesale Selling information page here.
We expect our vendors to abide by and be aware of any laws applicable to their business as well as their products. This includes that – by selling on The Hive – you acknowledge that you are IN TRADE as required by law.
Our vendors are expected to provide excellent customer service and if they are not sure what that means, there will be plenty of information available to them.
Communication is key in any business relationship and that’s also the case on The Hive.
The Hive NZ is a collective which thrives on vendor’s input, activity and positive energy.
The cohesive look, reliable content, and integrity of product listings are paramount to The Hive NZ. To ensure a high-quality marketplace, all listings must adhere to our standards.
You must follow the most up-to-date requirements outlined in our Product Listing Guide. As a vendor, you operate as an independent seller. You are exclusively permitted to list and sell your own products on our platform.
The Hive NZ does not claim ownership of any products or intellectual property (IP) listed by vendors. We are not responsible for verifying product origins or brand claims. Each vendor holds sole responsibility for ensuring their content complies with local and international laws.
The ‘brand’ function is a utility to help structure the marketplace. It does not constitute an endorsement or verification by The Hive NZ. Using trademarked names or copyrighted imagery without permission violates intellectual property law. This includes items made from licensed fabrics, such as Disney-branded materials.
We reserve the right to monitor listings and advise vendors on IP issues. However, the vendor remains ultimately responsible for every bit of their content. If a rights owner believes a listing violates their rights, they will be directed to you first. We may remove disputed listings or suspend accounts to protect the platform.
The Hive NZ is committed to total compliance with the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and its subsequent amendments. To protect the integrity of the marketplace and ensure the safety of our community, the following rules apply:
Prohibited Items: The sale of vaping devices (e-cigarettes) and flavoured e-liquids is strictly prohibited on The Hive NZ.
Permitted Accessories: Vendors may list non-regulated components and accessories, such as standard batteries, chargers, or non-specialized hardware, provided they do not fall under “Dark Site” retail restrictions.
Mandatory Manual Approval: Any vendor wishing to list items in restricted or regulated categories (including batteries and hardware) will be subject to manual listing approval. The Hive NZ reserves the right to decline or remove any listing that, in our sole discretion, risks non-compliance with New Zealand law.
Content Restrictions: Listings for permitted accessories must not include images of prohibited vaping devices, enticing branding, or marketing language that promotes the use of regulated vaping products.
Liability: While The Hive NZ monitors for compliance, the Vendor remains solely and fully liable for ensuring their products and content adhere to all New Zealand legislation. Any breach of the Smokefree Act through a Vendor’s listing is the Vendor’s legal and financial responsibility.
In addition to the restrictions in section 2E, the following items are prohibited from sale on The Hive NZ or require express written permission from Admin:
Alcohol: No alcoholic beverages may be sold.
Health & Medical Claims: Products must not make unauthorized medicinal or therapeutic claims (e.g., claiming a cream “cures eczema” or “treats COVID-19”).
Restricted Weapons: No firearms, parts, or illegal knives (as defined by the Crimes Act 1961) are permitted.
Safety Standards: Products subject to mandatory New Zealand safety standards (including but not limited to: children’s nightwear, toys for ages 0-3, and baby cots) must meet all legal requirements.
Removal of Content: The Hive NZ reserves the right to remove any listing immediately if we believe it poses a safety risk, a legal liability, or if it lacks the required New Zealand safety labeling or certification.
You must have a Stripe account for your business to receive payments. This service is free and easy to set up on www.stripe.com .
If you do not connect a Stripe account, payments go to The Hive NZ Admin. We will then transfer the funds to your bank account weekly. A $5 admin fee applies to these manual transfers. You must not delay shipping while waiting for these manual payments.
Keep all communication with customers within The Hive’s system. Do not refer buyers to external links, social media, or private email addresses. Our admin team monitors the message system to ensure safety. Breaching these terms may result in account suspension.
We care about the reputation of our marketplace. Your behavior reflects on all our vendors. We expect you to uphold excellent service and clear communication at all times. Please read our Orders, Payments and Disputes Guide for more details.
We offer different contract options to suit your business needs.
When you choose our Pro+ Boost plan, you will enjoy many awesome features. One major benefit is that you do not pay any success fees on your sales. However, Stripe will still charge a transaction fee. These fees are automatically deducted the moment a customer places an order. You can list unlimited number of listings with this plan.
Alternatively, you can choose our Starter plan. This option means you pay nothing for your monthly contract. Instead, you pay a 15% success fee when you make a sale. Additionally, Stripe fees apply to these transactions as well. We calculate all fees based on the total order amount, excluding postage costs. You can list 3 listings with this plan.
Pro Plan
Should you look for a combination of both the above plans, our PRO plan in your best bet. With this plan you pay a very low $5 monthly fee and only 8% success fee over sales, excluding postage. You can list 15 products with this plan.
Furthermore, The Hive NZ does not currently charge any fees to list a product. Your listing stays valid until you choose to remove it. Currently, we also do not charge fees for adding categories or images to your store.
For a more detailed explanation, please read our Orders, Payments, and Disputes Guide.
By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, you also agree to the requirements listed in that guide.
How you get paid depends on whether you have connected your Stripe or not
A more detailed explanation of the order process, including payments to you for orders, you can read in our Orders, Payments and Disputes Guide
By agreeing to these Terms & Conditions you agree to the requirements as listed in that guide.
If a customer is not happy and wants a refund,replacement or other resolve, The Hive expects you to uphold excellent customer service, great communication as well as following the Consumers Guarantee Act and any other laws that apply.
The customer can contact you directly through our message system and you need to reply to them directly within the system too – no attempt to mediate will be made by The Hive NZ if communication has happened outside of our system.
If complete or partial refunds need to be given, you will be able to do that from within your account.
A more detailed explanation of the order process, including how to handle disputes you can read in our Orders, Payments and Disputes Guide
By agreeing to these Terms & Conditions you agree to the requirements as listed in that guide.
The below applies to ALL our plans, including our FREE plan:
When you register on The Hive as a vendor, your payment and subscription will be set up through your dashboard. When your contract is due to end you will receive an email warning you of this.
If you want to continue, change contract type/length, want to down/upgrade OR you want to delete your seller account, please do so from your vendor dashboard.
When downgrading specifically, please ALWAYS cancel your Pro+ Boost plan FIRST.
If you have any issues in regards to the above, please contact ADMIN
NO REFUNDS are given on contract fees – our terms and conditions clearly state all our processes.
We want our customers to browse around our website and find active seller profiles, with active products. Nothing as annoying as looking around and not finding any products in store pages or finding products you cannot buy.
This is why the below limits are set:
You can put your store page on Holiday Mode from your settings – however, no longer than 21 days and no more than 2 times a year. If you feel ADMIN should give you an exception, please contact us.
Your store page is required to have active products in it within any given 2 week period.
Without (active) products, your store will not show on our vendors page
Products showing as ‘sold out’ or in ‘draft’ are not visible to the customer on the live site, please take this into account when you want to keep your store page active. If you intend to have the listing live in the future, please put it in DRAFT mode but always make sure you have at least 1 active/live listing.
You can edit the listing or delete it, from your dashboard.
