Code of Conduct
The Dunedin Festival of Interactive Narrative & Storytelling (FINS) as an event organised by and representing the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE), conforms to the Code of Conduct of CODE. All attendees are expected to adhere to this code.
Purpose
CODE hosts a variety of events, conversations, and social spaces for the purpose of collaborating and advancing the game development industry. Our community is made of creators who come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them a range of priorities and interests. This policy has been created to ensure that all CODE spaces, events, and forums are a safe space for all. This means welcoming a range of opinions and perspectives, and ensuring that all behaviour and content within these spaces is respectful and constructive.
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Our Principles
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We respect and value our diverse community
CODE has created events and forums for the community to collaborate, share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback. The skills, backgrounds, and experiences of our community are our strength, and we empower one another to share information. When we disagree, we see it as an opportunity to learn and grow, and we understand that we disagree with people’s ideas, not them as people. We do not criticise each other’s personal attributes, affiliations, or beliefs and refrain from discussing them.
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We value our professionalism and our empathy
Game development in New Zealand is a growing industry dependent on the skills of talented individuals. We value opportunities to share skills and ideas, and through this, take responsibility for sharing access to opportunities, resources, and information. We ensure that our conduct and our content is ethical and beneficial to our profession, the industry, and society at large. We make it a point to raise the voices of those who are underrepresented in our community.
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We are all governors of this space
CODE and everyone within its spaces are individually responsible for their behaviour and the way it may be perceived by others. We are all, by virtue of gathering together, dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience. We are all accountable, we collaborate in good faith, and we all take responsibility for maintaining the principles of these guidelines in our discussions, events, and forums.
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The New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence Code of Conduct policy that follows is guided by these principles for the purpose of creating a safe space for all participants.
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Code of Conduct
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Purpose – What is the Code of Conduct?
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This Code of Conduct outlines the expectations we hold for anyone participating in CODE events or communicating in CODE spaces.
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Scope – Where does it apply?
This Code of Conduct applies to everyone participating with or within the Dunedin Festival of Interactive Narrative & Storytelling Sphere of Influence, either online or off – either as a participant or as a representative of the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence (including board members, volunteers, speakers, event facilitators, and award nominees).
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The New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence Sphere of Influence includes all official CODE spaces such as the mailing list, official communication channels such as fins@codedunedin.nz, the CODE website, social media spaces, and all other CODE managed spaces both online and off.
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This Code of Conduct does not apply to employees of our event venues, however we do expect our event partners to treat conference attendees in a respectful manner. Any venue-specific rules or Code of Conduct should be followed in addition to this one.
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Some CODE spaces may have additional rules in place, which will be made clearly available to participants. Participants are responsible for knowing and abiding by these rules.
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The New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence reserves the right to expel any participant from any CODE event or space.
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The Code of Conduct – What are the unacceptable behaviours?
The New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence recognises that harassment can have far-reaching consequences on emotional and physical health and is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience
CODE does not tolerate harassment in any form.
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Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
Discriminatory actions or offensive/unwelcome comments, including those relating to: gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion, lifestyle choices and practices (including those – related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.)
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Sexual harassment (irrespective of gender), as in ​unwanted attention of a sexually-oriented nature​, including (but not limited to) offensive comments or gestures of a sexual nature, sexual or smutty jokes, repeated comments/invitations/ intrusions into someone’s private life, unwelcome physical contact or simulations of physical contact, provocative visual material.
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Bullying, as in repeated, persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour, including (but not limited to) threats and intimidation, manipulation and coercion, verbally or degrading language, gestures or images, shouting, yelling; using a raised voice and unpleasant tone, unexplained displays of rage, intentional humiliation, remarks either to the recipient or behind their back, threats of violence, stalking or cyberstalking
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Reporting – How do I report a violation of the Code of Conduct?
If you or someone you know are being harassed within a CODE space, or have any other concerns, please contact the CODE Executive Team at admin@codedunedin.nz.
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The CODE team will be happy to help you contact venue security, local law enforcement, local support services, provide escorts, or otherwise assist you to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.
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CODE will record, retain, and share any and all records related to violations of the Code of Conduct according to the CODE Complaint Handling Policy.
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Consequences – What happens if the Code of Conduct is violated?
Participants are expected to immediately stop any harassing behaviour upon request by CODE or the organiser of any physical event or online space.
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CODE or any organiser of any physical event or online space reserves the right to ask any participant to leave the event at their discretion if they feel this Code of Conduct has been breached.
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The CODE Board will handle all complaints in accordance with the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence Complaint Handling Policy, which will be available to all members upon request once finalised.