Independence

BrowniePoints is an independent blog. No business can pay to be listed or ranked, and no business can buy influence over what we write.

What that means in practice

• No paid placements, paid upgrades or "featured" spots. Every business on a list is there on the same terms.
• We don't take payment, gifts or free work from the businesses we list.
• We don't use affiliate links and don't earn anything when you click through to a business or call them. If this ever changes we will say so, on this page and on every page it affects.
• Businesses don't see or approve our lists before they are published.

How rankings work

Our rankings come from public review data plus register checks:

• Each business's Google rating and number of Google reviews, combined with the same scoring for everyone that favours many good reviews over a few perfect ones. A business needs at least 15 Google reviews to be ranked.
• For trades that need a licence, a check on the official register: PGDB for plumbers, EWRB for electricians, and LBP for builders, roofers and bathroom renovators. We only rank a business once we've confirmed a current licence.
• Ratings are refreshed at least every 30 days. Each list shows when it was last checked.

The full method, including the formula, is on How we rank. Our editorial policy covers how lists are written and reviewed.

Errors and corrections

If something we publish is wrong, email hello@browniepoints.co.nz with the page, what's wrong and how we can check it. Corrections are free.

• We aim to reply within 5 working days.
• If we got a fact wrong, we fix it and update the page's date.
• If the underlying data has changed (for example, a new licence or more reviews), we re-check it and re-apply the same method.

Requests to be removed or moved up

We handle these by checking the facts. If something about a business is inaccurate, out of date, or personal information that shouldn't be public, we correct or remove it. We don't change a ranking because a business asks, complains or offers anything: only the review and register data can change a rank.