Parliament’s newly passed charities law expects more transparency over funding, fewer administration requirements and an easier appeals process. Increased powers have been given to Charities Services – the sector administrator – and to the Charities Registration Board. Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan says New Zealand’s 28,000 or so registered charities make a great Read more
Charity tax exemptions are not part of the government review of charity law. According to the Department of Internal Affairs policy general manager, Raj Krishnan, the issue of tax exemption for religious charities such as Sanitarium and Destiny Church will not form part of the review. Krishnan said lots had changed for the more than Read more
Churches are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply with a new crackdown on charities’ financial reporting standards. Charities who spend more than $1m per year are being forced to open up their books, in some cases for the first time, under new laws which came into effect this month. The Charities Service say the new Read more
Labour’s charity spokeswoman, Louisa Wall, and Christchurch charity expert Dr Michael Gousmett have criticised the lack of accountability of subsidised charitable organisations. Under the existing law charitable organisations are allowed tax relief, and receive subsidies with no public benefit test holding them to account. Gousmett says that while charities must make their financial accounts publicly Read more