Cookie Policy
What cookies 12Steps.nz uses, why we use them, and how you stay in control. This covers essential, analytics, affiliate-tracking and preference cookies, plus similar technologies like pixels and local storage. Last updated 7 August 2026.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device when you visit. They let the site remember things between pages or visits — such as whether you have already dismissed a banner, or which page sent you to an operator. Some cookies are set by 12Steps.nz directly ("first-party" cookies); others are set by third parties such as our analytics provider or an operator's affiliate network ("third-party" cookies). Similar technologies, like pixels and local storage, work in comparable ways, and this policy covers them too.
The cookies we use
We group cookies into four categories. The table below summarises each one and how long it typically lasts.
| Category | What it does | Example | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Keeps the site working — remembers your cookie choice and basic session state. Cannot be switched off. | cookie_consent | Session – 12 months |
| Analytics | Measures how the site is used so we can improve it — pages viewed, device, approximate region. Data is aggregated. | Google Analytics 4 (_ga) | Up to 24 months |
| Affiliate tracking | Records a click ID when you visit an operator so a resulting sign-up can be attributed to us. This is how we earn commission. | click_id / referral tag | 1 – 90 days |
| Preferences | Remembers small choices, such as a dismissed notice, so you are not asked again. | ui_prefs | Up to 12 months |
Analytics cookies (GA4)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand which guides Kiwi readers find useful and where the site could be better. GA4 sets cookies that collect non-identifying usage data. We do not use analytics to identify you personally, and we configure our analytics to respect privacy where we can.
Affiliate tracking / click-ID cookies
When you click through to a gambling operator we recommend, a click-ID cookie or referral parameter may be recorded by that operator's affiliate system. If you then register or deposit, the operator can credit the referral to 12Steps.nz and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. This never influences our independent ratings; see our rating methodology. These cookies do not give us access to your gambling account.
Third-party cookies
Some cookies are set by third parties — chiefly Google (analytics) and the affiliate networks used by the operators we list. These parties control those cookies under their own privacy and cookie policies. We recommend reviewing the policies of any operator site you visit.
How to control or disable cookies
You are in control. You can accept or decline non-essential cookies through our on-site cookie notice, and you can change your mind at any time by clearing cookies and reloading the page. You can also manage cookies directly in your browser:
- Chrome: Settings › Privacy and security › Third-party cookies / Clear browsing data.
- Safari: Settings › Privacy › Manage Website Data / Block all cookies.
- Firefox: Settings › Privacy & Security › Cookies and Site Data.
- Edge: Settings › Cookies and site permissions › Manage and delete cookies.
You can also browse in a private/incognito window, or use browser add-ons to block trackers. Please note that blocking essential cookies may stop parts of the site working as intended.
Consent
Essential cookies are needed for the site to function and are always on. Analytics, affiliate-tracking and preference cookies are used on the basis of your consent, which you give (or decline) through our cookie notice and can withdraw at any time.
Updates to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as our tools or the law change. The current version always shows the "last updated" date above. Questions? Email hello@12steps.nz.