Who can help?
The following list of organisations and sources are available to assist with queries.
Community Law Centres nationwide offer legal services to their communities, responding to community needs by providing a mix of services. They have very helpful advice on drafting your organisation's rules and deeds.
The Companies Office maintains incorporated society, charitable trust and company registers. Contact the Office to apply for incorporation, update your organisation's details, and maintain your registration. You can also search the registers online.
Community Advisory Services are provided at no charge to community groups, and includes assistance with planning, funding, legal structures, training needs, monitoring and evaluation, and facilitation.
Deals with all aspects of tax requirements, forms, contacts, charitable status information.
IRD has a section for not-for-profit groups with information for trusts, societies, Māori organisations, and other not-for-profit entities: www.ird.govt.nz/notforprofits
The Charities Commission is responsible for registering and monitoring charitable organisations in New Zealand, as well as providing support and education to the charitable sector on good governance and management.
Te Puni Kokiri offers services and information to assist in the development of Maori businesses and organisations. Te Puni Kōkiri’s website for effective governance education
http://governance.tpk.govt.nz/ has much useful information.
Resources available on trustees duties, maori land trust structures.
BIZ info provides contacts and information on government and non-government services and funding for small and medium businesses through a nationwide network of information centres, a freephone service, 0800 42 49 46. It is a Business Information portal, at http://www.biz.org.nz that will be further developed in a world class one.