1. About G.A.I.A Digital Studio
G.A.I.A Digital Studio is operated by Cathryn Ash in New Zealand.
G.A.I.A provides websites, digital tools, applications, AI-supported workflows, professional documents, presentations and related digital services.
In these terms, “G.A.I.A”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Cathryn Ash trading as G.A.I.A Digital Studio.
“You” and “your” refer to anyone who visits or uses this website.
2. Acceptance of these terms
By accessing or using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use.
If you do not agree with these terms, please do not continue using the website.
Using the website or submitting an enquiry does not automatically create a client, adviser, contractor or other professional relationship between you and G.A.I.A.
A project relationship begins only when the proposed scope, fees and applicable project terms have been accepted in writing.
3. Website information
The information on this website is provided as a general introduction to G.A.I.A and its services.
We take reasonable care to keep website information clear and accurate. However, content may occasionally be incomplete, become outdated or contain an error.
Website content may be updated, corrected, removed or expanded when required.
Nothing on this website should be treated as legal, financial, medical, accounting or other regulated professional advice.
Where a project involves specialist subject matter, you remain responsible for obtaining advice from an appropriately qualified professional.
4. Services and starting prices
Descriptions of services on this website are general and may not cover every feature, requirement or limitation of a particular project.
Prices described as “from” are starting points only.
They are not fixed quotes and do not guarantee that every project will be completed for the displayed starting price.
The final price may depend on factors including:
- project scope
- number of pages or screens
- complexity of design
- copywriting requirements
- custom graphics
- forms and integrations
- ecommerce or booking functionality
- databases or user accounts
- AI or automation requirements
- third-party software
- urgency
- revisions
- ongoing support requirements
A written quote or proposal will be provided before paid project work begins.
All prices are shown in New Zealand dollars unless stated otherwise.
GST will be added where legally applicable.
5. Project enquiries
Visitors may use the website enquiry form to describe a potential project or request a discovery conversation.
Submitting an enquiry does not:
- guarantee that G.A.I.A will accept the project
- reserve project availability
- create a binding agreement
- confirm a final price
- require either party to proceed
G.A.I.A may request more information before deciding whether a project is suitable.
G.A.I.A may decline work that:
- falls outside current capacity or expertise
- cannot be delivered responsibly within the requested timeframe or budget
- involves illegal, deceptive or harmful activity
- involves exploitation, harassment, hate or abuse
- conflicts with G.A.I.A’s ethical values
- presents an unreasonable legal, financial, technical or reputational risk
Where practical, G.A.I.A may explain that a project cannot be accepted, but is not required to provide a detailed reason.
6. Separate project agreements
Each accepted project will be governed by a separate written proposal, quote, service agreement or combination of these documents.
That project documentation may include:
- project scope
- deliverables
- exclusions
- client responsibilities
- milestones
- payment schedule
- deposit requirements
- revision limits
- delivery dates
- approval procedures
- hosting arrangements
- third-party costs
- intellectual property ownership
- licensing
- cancellation terms
- handover or transfer arrangements
- ongoing maintenance or support
If there is any inconsistency between these website terms and a signed or accepted project agreement, the project agreement will apply to that project.
7. Deposits and payments
Website pricing information does not itself create a payment obligation.
Payment terms will be confirmed in the relevant written proposal or agreement.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, website projects may require:
- a 50% deposit before work begins
- payment of the remaining balance before launch or final handover
Third-party costs may need to be paid before they are purchased or activated.
These may include:
- domain registration
- hosting subscriptions
- premium software
- paid fonts
- stock images
- booking platforms
- email services
- ecommerce services
- database services
- AI usage
- specialist integrations
Detailed cancellation, refund and non-payment terms will be included in the relevant project agreement.
8. Revisions and project changes
The number of included revisions will be stated in the relevant proposal or project agreement.
Unless otherwise agreed, website packages may include up to three structured revision rounds.
A revision means a reasonable adjustment to work already included in the agreed scope.
A revision does not include:
- a new design direction after approval
- additional pages
- new functionality
- major restructuring
- substantial new copy
- new integrations
- work outside the original project scope
Additional or out-of-scope work will be quoted separately.
9. Client responsibilities
Clients are responsible for providing accurate, complete and timely information needed to complete their project.
This may include:
- business details
- approved text
- images
- logos
- contact information
- legal wording
- pricing
- product or service information
- access credentials
- feedback and approvals
Project timelines may change if required material, access, feedback or approval is delayed.
Clients are responsible for reviewing and approving factual information before publication.
G.A.I.A is not responsible for an error that remains because incorrect information was supplied or approved by the client, except where G.A.I.A knew or reasonably should have known that the information was incorrect.
10. Client-supplied materials
You must only supply materials that you own or have permission to use.
This includes:
- text
- photographs
- video
- illustrations
- logos
- fonts
- music
- trademarks
- documents
- data
- testimonials
- customer information
You are responsible for obtaining any permissions, releases, licences or approvals required for client-supplied material.
G.A.I.A may decline to use material where ownership or permission is unclear.
11. Intellectual property on this website
Unless otherwise stated, the content and creative material on this website belong to G.A.I.A Digital Studio or are used under an appropriate licence.
This may include:
- the G.A.I.A name and branding
- website copy
- original graphics
- layouts
- illustrations
- templates
- processes
- service descriptions
- downloadable resources
You may:
- view the website
- share a link to the website
- print a reasonable extract for personal reference
You may not, without prior written permission:
- reproduce substantial website content
- republish the content as your own
- sell or license the content
- copy the branding or design
- commercially exploit the material
- remove ownership or copyright notices
12. Ownership of client work
Ownership and licensing of material created for a client will be stated in the relevant project agreement.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing:
- ownership of final approved custom deliverables may transfer after full payment
- G.A.I.A retains ownership of pre-existing methods, templates, systems, processes and reusable components
- third-party software, fonts, images, plugins and services remain subject to their own licences
- unpaid drafts and incomplete work remain the property of G.A.I.A
No transfer of ownership occurs merely because draft work has been viewed or reviewed.
13. Portfolio use
Unless a project agreement states otherwise, G.A.I.A may ask for permission to display completed public-facing work in:
- a portfolio
- case studies
- presentations
- social media
- service examples
Private, confidential or unreleased work will not knowingly be published without permission.
Clients may request that portfolio use be restricted or delayed.
14. AI-supported services
G.A.I.A may use AI-supported tools as part of research, planning, drafting, visual exploration, document creation, design, coding, testing or workflow development.
AI-supported work is used as part of a human-led creative and technical process.
G.A.I.A will apply human review, judgment and refinement appropriate to the project.
However:
- AI-generated or AI-assisted material may occasionally contain errors
- factual claims may require independent checking
- specialist content may require review by an appropriately qualified professional
- third-party AI platforms may have their own terms and limitations
G.A.I.A will not knowingly submit highly sensitive or confidential client information to a third-party AI service without appropriate permission or safeguards.
Clients remain responsible for final approval of published content and material.
15. Third-party platforms and services
G.A.I.A projects may use third-party platforms or services.
These may include:
- website-building platforms
- hosting providers
- domain registrars
- cloud services
- email providers
- booking platforms
- ecommerce providers
- payment processors
- analytics providers
- database services
- AI tools
- stock media libraries
- font providers
- integration services
Third-party services are governed by their own:
- terms
- privacy policies
- licences
- pricing
- availability
- usage limits
- security arrangements
G.A.I.A does not control third-party services and cannot guarantee that they will remain available, unchanged, uninterrupted or free from error.
Where a third-party provider changes its pricing, limits, functionality or terms, a project or ongoing service may need to be reviewed.
Any material third-party costs will be disclosed before they are deliberately incurred on your behalf.
16. Managed hosting and website care
Managed hosting may be available for eligible G.A.I.A-built websites.
The exact hosting inclusions, limits and fees will be described in the relevant hosting or project agreement.
A standard managed hosting plan may include:
- managed website hosting
- SSL certificate management
- domain connection assistance
- deployment and publishing
- basic uptime oversight
- platform troubleshooting
- one simple monthly content change
Unless otherwise agreed, managed hosting does not include:
- domain registration or renewal
- business email
- major redesigns
- new pages
- new features
- ecommerce changes
- booking-system changes
- database restructuring
- unusually high application or AI usage
- extensive recovery work
- third-party subscription fees
Unused monthly changes do not accumulate or roll over.
Hosting cancellation, website transfer, non-payment and handover arrangements will be explained in the applicable hosting agreement.
17. Results and performance
G.A.I.A will provide accepted services with reasonable care and skill.
However, no particular commercial result is guaranteed.
G.A.I.A does not guarantee:
- increased sales
- increased donations
- funding approval
- search-engine ranking
- visitor numbers
- audience growth
- customer conversion
- business profitability
- application adoption
- uninterrupted operation of third-party services
Project success may depend on many factors outside G.A.I.A’s control, including the client’s offer, content, market, marketing activity, pricing, reputation, customer service and ongoing use of the completed work.
Nothing in these terms limits any right or remedy that cannot legally be excluded.
18. Website availability
G.A.I.A aims to keep this website reasonably available and secure.
However, uninterrupted access cannot be guaranteed.
The website may occasionally be unavailable because of:
- maintenance
- updates
- hosting interruptions
- network problems
- technical faults
- security issues
- events outside reasonable control
G.A.I.A may change, suspend or withdraw part of the website where reasonably required.
19. External links
This website may include links to external websites or services.
External links are provided for convenience or additional information.
G.A.I.A does not control external websites and is not responsible for their:
- content
- availability
- security
- accuracy
- products
- services
- privacy practices
Opening or relying on an external website is at your discretion.
20. Prohibited use
You must not use this website to:
- break any law
- interfere with website operation
- attempt unauthorised access
- introduce malicious software or code
- submit spam or fraudulent enquiries
- impersonate another person
- submit abusive, threatening or hateful material
- collect personal information without authority
- scrape or copy protected content for commercial use
- test or exploit website security without written permission
- use the website in a way that may harm G.A.I.A or another person
G.A.I.A may block access, reject submissions or report conduct where reasonably necessary to protect the website, the business or another person.
21. Privacy
Personal information submitted through this website is handled in accordance with the G.A.I.A Digital Studio Privacy Statement.
22. Liability
To the extent permitted by law, G.A.I.A is not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential loss arising solely from:
- use of the public website
- temporary website unavailability
- reliance on general website information
- third-party websites or services
- circumstances outside reasonable control
This clause does not exclude responsibility where liability cannot legally be excluded.
It also does not replace the liability terms in an individual project agreement.
23. New Zealand consumer rights
Nothing in these terms is intended to exclude or limit rights available under New Zealand law where those rights cannot lawfully be excluded.
Depending on the circumstances, these rights may include protections under:
- the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
- the Fair Trading Act 1986
- the Privacy Act 2020
- other applicable New Zealand legislation
Where services are acquired for business purposes, the application of particular consumer protections may be addressed in the relevant written project agreement where legally permitted.
24. Changes to these terms
G.A.I.A may update these website terms when:
- services change
- website functionality changes
- pricing structures change
- new technology providers are introduced
- business practices change
- legal requirements change
The latest version will be published on this page.
The “Last updated” date will change whenever a material update is made.
Changes to these website terms will not retrospectively replace a separate project agreement already accepted by both parties.
25. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand.
Any dispute relating to the use of this website will be subject to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts, subject to any legal rights that apply.
26. Contact
Questions about these website terms may be submitted through the G.A.I.A project enquiry or contact form.
Address correspondence to:
G.A.I.A Digital Studio
Nelson–Tasman, New Zealand
Business contact email to be added
These website terms are a practical guide only. They are not formal legal advice. Individual projects are governed by their own written proposal or service agreement.