Choosing the right sort of legal structure for what you're doing is an important part of setting up a community or voluntary organisation. This 'How-to Guide' provides information to assist with the many steps along the way.
NOTE: The new Community Resource Kit covers similar topics for new or small organisations. See especially 01 getting started, 02 planning and 03 organisational structures.
This How-to Guide will be revised to remove duplication, when time allows.
Meanwhile, it contains information and links for people wanting to set up an incorporated society, charitable trust, Māori organisation or other legal entity. Choose the right structure for your community or voluntary organisation, whether it is a club, society, service organisation charity, trust or interest group. The guide includes: sample constitutions, links to relevant IRD and Companies Office documents, and checklists.
A good place to start is Choosing a structure. You'll find more details about each legal structure in Publications / Resources.
Read some Case Studies or browse the Community Groups Links to see what similar organisations have chosen, then download a sample constitution from the Templates section.
You'll also find more information in other Websites.
Please help make this How-to Guide even more useful. Email news, links or other information to information@community.net.nz.
Currently, we are looking for a new editor for this How To Guide, with the Departments' Digital Strategy Team looking after it in the meantime. If you have an interest in Governance and Management and would like to take on this role, please email us as above.
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An overview to help you set-up an incorporated society and register it with the Companies Office.
Date updated: 27 February 2009
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An overview of advantages and disadvantages of becoming a legal entity and a comparison of the distinctions between the most common structures.
Date updated: 27 February 2009
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The following list of organisations and sources are available to assist with queries.
Date updated: 17 June 2008
Full List
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A Sample Charitable Trust Deed and Guide to its Clauses (reviewed by Inland Revenue) and a sample Statutory Declaration are offered here for use in setting up a Charitable Trust.
Date updated: 27 February 2009
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Downloadable sample constitutions and registration forms.
Date updated: 8 October 2008
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The Societies Office holds information about trusts and societies. This includes Constitutions and Trust Deeds, and it can be very helpful to read the deeds of existing organisations with a similar purpose to yours.
Date updated: 19 November 2005
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Register for charitable trusts, incorporated societies, companies and other legal entities that are incorporated. Here you'll find an Online search for organisations, forms for registering new organisations, and filed constitutions, annual accounts ...
Date added: 10 November 2002
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Tax information for incorporated societies, clubs, associations, charitable trusts.
Date added: 10 November 2002
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Designed for sports clubs, this section of the SPARC's Club Kit on getting a club started has useful resources for any organisation. It is designed to help figure out what a club can achieve and the ...
Date added: 4 October 2007
Full List