Māui Studios Terms and Conditions
The following terms and conditions apply to all service offerings provided by Maui Studios Aotearoa Ltd (herein referred to as “Maui Studios”), to the Client.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Māui Studios Aotearoa provides a full creative suite of multimedia and storytelling solutions. Our creative services spans across three core domains:
Visual Design — Brand Identity, Creative Campaigns, Toi Māori Design, Print Resources, Graphic Novels, Web Design, and related design outputs.
Motion Design — Brand Storytelling, Documentaries, Commercials, Short Films, Music Videos, Animation, and Educational content.
Immersive Design — AR/VR Content, Mixed Reality Experiences, Interactive Training Simulations, Game Design & Development, and App/Browser-based Platforms.
These Terms and Conditions apply equally to all services across these domains, whether delivered individually or as part of a combined project. If a creative service is not listed here but is provided by Māui Studios, it is assumed to fall within one of the three domains above and is therefore also subject to the following Terms and Conditions.
1. ACCEPTANCE
It is not necessary for any Client to have signed an acceptance of these terms and conditions for them to apply. If a Client accepts a quote from Māui Studios, then the Client will be deemed to have satisfied themselves as to the terms applying and have accepted these terms and conditions in full. Please read these terms and conditions carefully. Any purchase or use of our services implies that you have read and accepted our terms and conditions.
2. SERVICES AND CONDUCT
Where Māui Studios performs work for a client, it will ensure that competent and suitably experienced personnel carry out all work, in a professional manner and in accordance with appropriate standards.
While Māui Studios will make every endeavour to ensure a fully professional approach to all work carried out, Māui Studios shall not be liable for any consequences of the provision of services to the client, except for consequences arising as a direct result of proven negligence on the part of Māui Studios.
3. CHARGES
Charges for services to be provided by Māui Studios are defined in the project quotation that the Client receives via email. Quotations are valid for a period of 30 days. Māui Studios reserves the right to alter or decline to provide a quotation after expiry of the 30 days.
Unless agreed otherwise with the Client, all projects require an advance payment of a minimum of 50% of the project quotation total before work commences. The remaining 50% is due upon completion of the work and prior to delivery of final materials, unless otherwise arranged in advance and confirmed in writing.
4. CLIENT REVIEW
Māui Studios will provide the Client with opportunities to review drafts, edits, or prototypes during the development phase of a project. At the completion of the project, such materials will be deemed to be accepted and approved unless the Client notifies Māui Studios otherwise within ten (10) working days of the date the materials are made available to the Client.
5. TURNAROUND TIME AND CONTENT CONTROL
Māui Studios will deliver the Client’s project by the date specified in the project proposal, or at a date agreed with the Client upon receipt of initial payment, unless a delay is specifically requested by the Client and agreed by Māui Studios.
In return, the Client agrees to delegate a single individual as a primary contact to assist Māui Studios with progressing the commission in a satisfactory and expedient manner. During the project, Māui Studios may require the Client to provide supporting material such as text, images, video, audio, or design assets.
6. FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUIRED MATERIALS
To remain efficient, Māui Studios must ensure that scheduled work is carried out on time. Delays in the Client providing required materials may result in delays to delivery and a surcharge of up to 25%. If materials are not provided within one week of project commencement, Māui Studios reserves the right to close the project and invoice the balance remaining.
7. OWNERSHIP OF FINAL PRODUCT
Ownership of the products supplied as part of this service is retained by Māui Studios until payment in full for the service supplied is received. Notwithstanding any period of credit allowed, upon default of payment Māui Studios may recover possession of the products and resell them.
8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Nothing in these terms will function to transfer any of either party’s Intellectual Property rights to the other, and each party will retain exclusive interest in and ownership of its Intellectual Property developed outside the scope of engagement.
Māui Studios reserves the right to retain Intellectual Property developed but not delivered as final product to the client.
9. PAYMENT
Quotes must be accepted via written client notice to commence the project. We require 50% upfront before we commence the project, unless a prior arrangement has been made. Invoices do not expire.
Invoices will be provided by Māui Studios upon completion but before delivery of final outputs. Invoices are normally sent via email; however, the Client may request hard copies. Invoices are due upon receipt. Accounts that remain unpaid thirty (30) days after the date of the invoice will be assessed a service charge in the amount of 2% of the outstanding balance per month.
Māui Studios reserves the right to raise invoices prior to project completion where delays are directly attributable to client communication or failure to provide requested materials. All expenses, including debt collection or legal fees, will be added to your account and are payable by the Client.
10. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
The Client agrees to reimburse Māui Studios for any additional expenses necessary for the completion of the work. Examples may include the purchase of fonts, stock photography, software licenses, specialist equipment, or third-party services.
11. DEFAULT
Accounts unpaid thirty (30) days after the date of invoice will be considered in default. Māui Studios may, at its discretion, suspend or withhold delivery of materials until outstanding accounts are paid. Clients with accounts in default agree to pay Māui Studios reasonable expenses, including legal fees and collection costs, incurred in enforcing these Terms and Conditions.
12. TECHNICAL COMPATIBILITY
Māui Studios will take all reasonable steps to ensure deliverables are functional and compatible with agreed platforms, formats, or technologies. However, Māui Studios cannot guarantee performance across all future systems, software versions, or platforms outside the scope of the original agreement.
13. TERMINATION
Termination of services by the Client must be requested in a written notice and will be effective upon receipt. Email is acceptable as written notice. The Client will be invoiced for work completed to the date of notice and payment is due within thirty (30) days.
14. PRIVACY ACT 1993
The Client and the Guarantor/s (if separate to the Client) authorises Māui Studios to:
collect, use and retain information about the Client for the purpose of assessing creditworthiness or marketing products and services; and
disclose information about the Client to any other credit provider or credit reporting agency for purposes of providing or obtaining a credit reference, debt collection, or notifying a default.
15. INDEMNITY
All Māui Studios services may be used for lawful purposes only. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold Māui Studios harmless from any claims resulting from the Client’s use of our services that damages the Client or any other party.
16. COPYRIGHT
The Client retains the copyright to data, files, and graphic logos provided by the Client, and grants Māui Studios the rights to publish and use such material. The Client must obtain permission and rights to use any information or files that are copyrighted by a third party. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Māui Studios from any and all claims resulting from the Client’s negligence or inability to obtain proper copyright permissions.
17. STANDARD MEDIA DELIVERY
Unless otherwise specified in the project quotation, this Agreement assumes that any text will be provided electronically and that all photographs, audio, and video assets will be provided in suitable digital formats. Māui Studios will make reasonable efforts to return original material provided, but return cannot be guaranteed.
18. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Māui Studios may request acknowledgment in the form of a credit on final deliverables, where appropriate (e.g., design, film, interactive experiences). If a Client requests removal of credit, an additional fee may apply. The Client also agrees that the project may be presented in Māui Studios’ portfolio.
19. ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
Where technical access is required to complete a project (e.g., servers, platforms, cloud storage, staging environments, or third-party systems), the Client must provide Māui Studios with the necessary credentials and permissions.
20. POST-DELIVERY ALTERATIONS
Māui Studios cannot accept responsibility for any alterations made by third parties after delivery of final materials. Such alterations may include additions, modifications, or deletions.
21. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
Where Māui Studios procures third-party services on behalf of the Client (e.g., hosting, domains, streaming services, or app store submissions), payment and renewal remain the responsibility of the Client unless otherwise agreed in writing.
22. GENERAL
These Terms and Conditions supersede all previous representations, understandings, or agreements. The Client’s e-signature and/or payment of an advance fee constitutes agreement to and acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Payment online is also an acceptance of these terms.
23. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Social Media Marketing and Management is defined as helping a Client to promote their products or services through social media channels. Māui Studios will honour the components of any agreed social media package, providing a minimum 3-month contract is served and monthly payments are received in advance. Failure to pay may result in services being halted until payment is made.
24. LIABILITY
Māui Studios hereby excludes itself, its employees, suppliers, and contractors from all and any liability from:
Loss or damage caused by inaccuracy;
Loss or damage caused by omission;
Loss or damage caused by delay or error, whether the result of negligence or other cause;
Loss or damage to Client’s artwork, photography, or other materials supplied.
The entire liability of Māui Studios to the Client in respect of any claim whatsoever shall be limited to the charges paid for the services under this Agreement.
25. SEVERABILITY
In the event any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be unimpaired. Such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a mutually acceptable valid, legal, and enforceable provision, which comes closest to the intention of the parties.
26. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, including any question regarding their existence, validity or termination, that cannot be resolved by Māui Studios and its Client shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of New Zealand legal representation.
Ngā mihi nui
Māui Studios Aotearoa Ltd