Message from the Director

We know many charities are navigating challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers, finding people willing to take on governance roles, and meeting compliance obligations. As these pressures continue, it may be worth exploring whether there are simpler or more sustainable ways to deliver your charitable activities. Depending on your circumstances, this could include collaborating with other organisations, merging with groups that share similar purposes, or using a fundholder arrangement that allows charitable work to continue while reducing governance and administrative requirements. 

Strong reporting remains fundamental to maintaining public trust and confidence in the charitable sector. Charities Services is continuing work to strengthen the monitoring of annual returns and reporting requirements, and we encourage all charities to prioritise timely, accurate and transparent reporting throughout the year. 

We are also pleased to share that, following significant improvements to our processes and systems, registration application wait times have reduced substantially. We know that timely decisions are important for organisations seeking registration, and we are proud of the progress our team has made in improving the experience for applicants. 

Thank you for the valuable contribution you make to communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Your work continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many people. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Nā Charlotte Stanley 

Director, Pou Whakahaere 
Charities Services

Election year reminder: Political activity and charities

With the General Election approaching on 7 November 2026, now is a good time for registered charities to review their obligations around political activity. Any political activity should be consistent with the charity's charitable purpose and must not support or oppose a political party or candidate.

Charities can speak out on issues that relate to their charitable purposes, but they must not support or oppose a political party or candidate. During an election period, there is a greater risk that activities may be perceived as supporting or opposing a political party or candidate, so it's important to take extra care.

This includes considering how your charity uses its resources, communications, events, website, and social media channels. Trustees and officers should ensure that any public statements or activities align with the charity's purposes and do not support or oppose a political party or candidate.

Charities must not:

• Donate to political parties or candidates.
• Endorse or oppose political parties or candidates.
• Encourage people to vote for or against a particular party or candidate.
• Use charity resources to support or oppose a political party or candidate.

Taking a few moments to review these requirements can help protect your charity's reputation, maintain public trust and confidence, and help ensure your charity's political activity remains consistent with its legal obligations.

For more information about political activity and charities, visit the Charities Services website.

Save the date!

Mark your calendar. Our 2026 Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday 19 November 2026.

As part of our preparations, we invite you to submit any questions you would like answered during the Q&A session.

To submit your questions, please respond to our survey.

We'll send an invitation and information about how to register closer to the meeting date.

Helping charities get started sooner

Charities Services has significantly reduced the time it takes to make registration decisions, helping eligible organisations get registered sooner and be listed on the Charities Register. 

This has been achieved during a period of increased demand from organisations applying to be registered, with around 20% more registration applications received in the 2025/26 financial year than the year before. 

Each registration decision helps protect the integrity of the Charities Register while reflecting the range of charitable work taking place across New Zealand. 

Behind newly registered charities are people who want to make a difference— whether they are supporting whānau, protecting the environment, advancing education, promoting culture, or providing other charitable services in communities across New Zealand. 

Getting a decision sooner can help these organisations take the next step and focus on the work they were set up to do.

Key reporting reminders for charities

We've recently updated the Annual Reporting section of the Charities Services website to make it easier for charities to find the information they need and understand their reporting obligations.

If your charity has a balance date of 31 March, your annual return is due by 30 September.  With less than two months remaining, many charities will already be preparing their annual return. The refreshed resources can help you understand your reporting obligations, confirm what’s required, and help you complete your annual return on time.

Whether you're preparing your charity’s annual return for the first time or looking for information about your reporting requirements, these updated pages provide a clear starting point. You'll also find dedicated guidance for Tier 3 and Tier 4 reporting, helping you identify the standards that apply to your charity.

Visit the updated Annual reporting pages to learn more and access the latest guidance.

Watch our video on navigating your charity dashboard

Need help using your charity's online dashboard? The dashboard is where you can view and update your charity's information, complete annual reporting, and access key services.

Our new video provides step-by-step guidance to help you get started. Watch the video to learn more. 

External Updates 

Inland Revenue is introducing new checks for Donation Tax Credit (DTC) claims. The checks will confirm that the IRD number entered by a donor matches an approved donee organisation.

To support your donors, make sure your donation receipts include all required information, including your organisation's IRD number.

If receipts are missing required information, donors may contact you for a replacement receipt to support their claim. Any replacement receipt should be clearly marked as a "replacement" or "copy".

A small check can make a big difference for your donors

Making sure donation receipts contain complete and accurate information will help make the DTC claim process faster and simpler for your donors.

For more information, visit Inland Revenue’s guidance on creating donation receipts.

September Wills Month: New NZ bequest research

September Wills Month is a national campaign that encourages charities across Aotearoa New Zealand to raise awareness of charitable gifts in wills (or bequests) and the lasting impact they can have.

This year's campaign comes at an important time, as New Zealand prepares for an estimated $1.6 trillion intergenerational transfer of wealth, highlighting the growing importance of gifts in wills.

To help charities better understand this opportunity, Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) has commissioned new sector research undertaken by BERL, which will be released this month.

The research explores how New Zealanders think about gifts in wills and reveals changing attitudes towards charitable bequests. It provides practical insights into the messages, motivations and approaches most likely to resonate with potential donors.

The findings will provide practical guidance for charities looking to grow and strengthen their bequest fundraising.

The research launches this month. Learn more and access the findings here.

Volunteering New Zealand is holding its annual conference in Rotorua on 15-16 October 2026.

The conference will bring together volunteer managers, leaders of volunteers and community organisations from across Aotearoa to explore emerging trends, share sector insights and strengthen volunteering practice.

To find out more and register, visit the Volunteering New Zealand website.

Resources