Monthly update 1 - August 2005
On 1 July the Charities Commission opened its doors for the first time. Since then it has been full on for the newly appointed board.
The Charities Act 2005 tasked the Charities Commission with providing:
- a registration monitoring system for charitable organisations; and
- support and education to the charitable sector on good governance and management.
Charities Commission Board
The Board of the Commission is made up of Sid Ashton (Chair, pictured right), Judith Timpany (Deputy Chair), Kerry Ayers, Ian Calder, Frank Claridge, Amohaere Houkamau and Pat Webster. Biographical notes on each board member can be viewed on the Commission’s website www.charities.govt.nz
Charities Commission up & running
On 1 July the Charities Commission opened its doors for the first time. Since then it has been full on for the newly appointed board. The focus has been very much one of establishment:
- Establishing the Commission’s team, policies and procedures.
- Establishing the Register of Charities and the IT infrastructure necessary to support it and, last but by no means least,
- Establishing the beginnings of a comprehensive series of links with the sector itself.
Modest offices on The Terrace in Wellington have been found, temporary contract staff had been engaged, many of the requirements for the IT systems had been drafted, and a great deal of work had been put into what will become the contents of the Regulations governing the registration process.
Appointment of a Chief Executive
Significant progress has been made with the recruiting of a Chief Executive. The Board is expecting to name the successful candidate before the end of August and the appointee will take up his/her duties as soon as practical after that. The calibre of applicants has been very high and the Board is confident the successful candidate has the experience and expertise to take the Commission forward in meeting the challenges which face it. Once the Chief Executive takes up his or her duties the process of appointing permanent staff will be completed. It is envisaged this process will be completed by March/April of next year. Ultimately the Commission is likely to have staffing levels of around 20.
The Registration Process
Work on both establishing the Charities Register and the forms which organisation wishing to register will use continues apace.
Registration Forms Workshops
Over the latter part of August the Commission is holding a limited number of workshops to gain initial feedback on the draft registration forms. Once this feedback has been obtained, where appropriate it will be incorporated into the draft forms.
In early October wider consultation will commence with the draft forms going up on the Commission’s website so that the wider sector has the opportunity to comment.
Resources
By the end of August a booklet Guide to the Charities Act will have been printed and available either from the Commission’s website or by ringing the Commission’s free line 0508 242 748. (Please note that registration will not commence until mid-2006.
Over the next few months, information aimed at assisting organisations with their preparations for registration will become available from the Commission, or downloadable from the Commission’s website. The Commission’s website is the best place to check for the latest information regarding registration requirements and the process, assistance with registering and information about such issues as group registration.
Communicating with the Charitable Sector
Board members are already accepting speaking engagements. The expectation is that the number of these engagements will increase and Board members welcome the opportunities these engagements provide to meet with members of the charitable sector to provide information about the commission and to gain feedback. The Commission’s website will be an essential communications tool, but hard copies of the resources produced will also be available. A comprehensive data-base of stakeholders is being developed and this will be a key means of communicating with the sector and for sending resources such as the Guide to the Act out.
For information: www.charities.govt.nz
Free phone 0508 242 748
These updates will be provided monthly.