Monthly update 10 - May 2006
In brief: This issue announces a deferment of the Charities Register launch, announces gives guides in Samoan, Tongan and traditional Chinese, answers your questions, and gives details of forthcoming Charities Commission presentations.
Download the PDF version [102kb] to print this document.
More time to prepare for registration
Charitable organisations will now have more time to consider applying for registration under the new Charities Act, due to a deferred launch of the Charities Register.
The Register will not open to receive applications in July 2006 as anticipated, but at a later date, which has yet to be confirmed by Cabinet. We will announce the new date as soon as possible.
While the registration period is effectively postponed, your organisation will still have at least 12 months to register before any existing income tax or gift duty exemptions are affected.
In the meantime, we will continue to ensure that as many charitable organisations as possible know about the Charities Act and its implications.
If your organisation has already made the decision to apply, we encourage you to use this extra time to gather the information and materials you will need to accompany your application. See our registration checklist for more.
Why the change?
The development of the Charities Register is a major project, which we want to ensure is done as well as possible.
Establishing, testing and implementing the Register in the most effective way needs more time than originally anticipated.
Latest on forms
Sometimes the early bird doesn’t catch the worm. At least, that was the case for three organisations that recently applied for registration using draft forms. While this enthusiasm is encouraging, please remember that the draft forms on our website are for preview purposes only. We cannot accept applications yet.
The postponed registration period has affected the timing surrounding the regulations that determine our forms and fees. Keep an eye on our website www.charities.govt.nz and future issues of Update, as we will let you know when we can expect to have the forms available in their final format.
You should find the final forms much easier to complete as they’ll be accompanied by guidance notes and set out in a more user-friendly way.
New translation sheets
Our booklet, "A Guide to the Charities Act", is now available in Samoan, Tongan and traditional Chinese. Further translations are underway in Korean and Māori – we’ll let you know when these are ready. Translation sheets can be downloaded from www.charities.govt.nz.
Your questions
Q: Is there a minimum number of members an unincorporated organisation must have before it can qualify for registration?
A: It depends. An unregistered trust with a charitable purpose may qualify for registration even if it has only one trustee. An unincorporated society must have at least two members because a “society” is more than one person associated by a common interest or purpose.
Q: If we change our rules after we are registered, do we need to submit those changes to the Commission before we formally adopt them?
A: There is no current procedure to pre-approve proposed rules or proposed rule changes. Charitable entities are required to notify the Commission of changes, including rule changes, so you will need to submit a notice of change on the prescribed form. The Commission will consider whether those changes will affect your registration status. If there are any problems, we will discuss them with you.
A thank you from the Commission
Our education programme shifted up a gear this month with two very successful pilot seminars for the Pacific Islands community and several interactive seminars held in partnership with Social Services groups.
We are thrilled with the reception from the charitable sector. Thank you for your support and your willingness to ‘spread the word’ among your own networks. A special thank you to the Pasifika Education Centre, the Pacific Business Trust and O’Hallorans MT for their wonderful partnership with us in Auckland.
Upcoming events
We are presenting at the following community events next month:
- Auckland, 1 June – Auckland City Council & Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office not-for-profit legislation seminars. For details, visit our website to download the flyer or email josephine.newman@aucklandcity.govt.nz
- Hamilton, 22 June – Social Services Waikato, registration workshop for community groups and funders. Community groups workshop 9.30-11.30am, funders’ workshop 1.00-3.00pm. For more information, please email sally@com-trust.org.nz or call 07 838 1583.
- Auckland, 28 June – Franklin Council of Social Services, seminar on registration under the Charities Act. For details, please call Evon Tiffany on 09 904 8829.
- Christchurch, 30 June – Community Law Christchurch, seminar on registration under the Charities Act for the Pacific Islands community. For details, please email Jeannie Pera on pacific@comlaw-chch.org.nz
Check the events page on our website for any new events in your region, which are posted up as soon as they are confirmed.
Do you know someone who might like to receive Update?
The Charities Act has important implications for many community groups and organisations throughout the country. We’re doing all we can to let people know about it, but you can help. If you have a friend who is on the board or committee of a local charity, community trust, church, incorporated society or another charitable organisation, why not send them the link to this newsletter and encourage them to subscribe?
All they need to do is email their contact details to info@charities.govt.nz and we’ll keep them informed from there on in.
For more information
Visit our website at www.charities.govt.nz for the latest information on the Commission’s activities, and on the registration process.
Free phone: 0508 CHARITIES (0508 242 748)
Update is the monthly newsletter of the Charities Commission. If you wish to subscribe, simply email info@charities.govt.nz with your name, organisation and postal address or call us on free phone 0508 CHARITIES (0508 242 748).