Charities Commission

These pages provide news, background and links on the Charities Commission.

The Charities Commission was established by the Charities Act 2005 and the Commission came into existence as an Autonomous Crown Entity (ACE) on 1 July 2005.

The main function of the Commission is to promote public trust and confidence in the charitable sector. The Commission does this by encouraging good governance and management practices, by providing educational material and other help. Registering and monitoring charities is another way to let the public know that the charities are doing what they say they are doing.

The Commission started receiving applications for registration as charitable entities when it opened the Register on 1 February 2007.

See also the Charities Commission website: www.charities.govt.nz.

To provide information, resources or comment please email the editor, at: information@community.net.nz .

News  (Full list of 43 news articles)

• Charities Commission to be disestablished, functions transferred

  Cabinet has confirmed a plan to disestablish the Charities Commission and transfer its core functions to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
  Date added: 25 October 2011

• New snapshot of New Zealand’s charitable sector

  The Charities Commission has published their latest "snapshot" of New Zealand’s Charitable Sector.
  Date added: 19 July 2011

• New online kit for officers of charities now available

  The Charities Commission has developed a new online “kit” for officers of charities. It brings together several new and updated resources, including several new resources.
  Date added: 15 June 2011

Background  (Full list of 9 articles)

• Charities Commission to be established

  An overview of the Charities Commission as at November 2002, by Pat Hanley, Projects Manager ANGOA.
  Date updated: 10 October 2006

• Charities Working Party website

  A link to the Charities Working Party website.
  Date updated: 7 October 2003

• Charity and the (UK) Charity Commission

  This 1999 article by the then commissioner of the UK Charities Commission outlines the aims, objectives and functions of the commission and some of the issues and tensions in the relationship between ...
  Date updated: 10 December 2003

Documents and Resources  (Full list of 5 items)

• Charities Commission information sheets and forms

  The Commission has compiled a series of helpful information sheets and checklists designed to make your life easier - these can easily be found on the top right of the Commission's homepage ...
  Date updated: 10 November 2008

• Charities Commission Website

  This website is a key way for the Commission to communicate with the many stakeholders that are charities or are involved with charities in New Zealand. You can subscribe to their monthly newletter ...
  Date updated: 20 April 2006

• Charities in profile

  For the first time, the Charities Register has brought together up-to-date information about individual charities, from which we can obtain information about the charitable sector and its work.
  Date updated: 18 February 2010