I would like to extend my thanks to you, the charitable sector. It has been amazing to see the incredible mahi (work) you all do for our communities and the people of Aotearoa. I also want to thank all the Charities Services kaimahi (staff) and the members of Te Rātā Atawhai - Independent Charities Registration Board for your continued dedication and commitment to serving and supporting registered charities.

In this newsletter, we feature a video update from the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan on modernising the Charities Act. I encourage you to take a look and to check out the Department's website which has more detailed information on the proposed changes.

We also celebrate Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu (National Volunteer Week) and give thanks to all the volunteers across the motu (country). For an interesting snapshot of volunteering hours reported by registered charities, check out this summary of volunteering hours.

Koutou ngā kaitūao katoa o te motu, ngā mihi maioha ki tonu mahi katoa
(To all the volunteers across the country, I thank you for all the work you continue to do).

Noho ora mai

Nā Mike Stone
Kaiwhakahaere Matua, General Manager

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, announces changes to the Charities Act

On 2 June, Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector announced changes to modernise the Charities Act, following a comprehensive government review. 

The review of the Charities Act commissioned by the Government was led by the Department of Internal Affairs’ Policy Group, and considered feedback and recommendations from across the community and voluntary sector.

The changes will include reduced reporting requirements for very small charities, increased transparency on accumulated funds and a more accessible tribunal for charities that want to appeal decisions. There are about 28,000 registered charities that contribute greatly to New Zealand society, and these changes will ensure that our legislative settings are fit for them to continue supporting our communities into the future

A bill is expected to be introduced this year to make these amendments to the Charities Act. The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback through the Select Committee process. The passing of the Charities Act Amendment Bill will mark the completion of a significant phase of work.

More information about the proposed changes can be found on the Department's website. If you have questions about the work, you can email the policy team at charitiesact@dia.govt.nz

National Volunteer Week

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu (National Volunteer Week) runs from 19-25 June 2022 and honours the collective energies of all our volunteers in Aotearoa. This year’s theme is He wā pīataata (time to shine) and coincides with the new public holiday for Matariki (24 June). 

Volunteering is a rewarding way to spend your time and thousands of people do it every week! As we acknowledge this, make sure you take some time to thank all the people who volunteer for your charity and let them know they are appreciated. If you need ideas on ways to applaud your people, check out the resource section from Volunteering New Zealand’s website. The ideas page provides 15 different ways to celebrate.

Charities Services' volunteering resources

Volunteer data

Every year we collect information on volunteering as part of the annual return process for registered charities. This information helps to tell the story of volunteering and its impact in Aotearoa.

This year there’s been a 3% increase in the average number of volunteers per week and a 11% increase in the mahi (work) they do compared to last year. This is just one example of the generosity and spirit of service of volunteers in Aotearoa.

For more volunteering insights, take a look at our latest data. We appreciate that this information is self-reported by registered charities so please be aware of the caveats that accompany the data.

Collecting information about volunteers

We encourage registered charities to keep accurate information about the support they receive from volunteers. Charities can use this information to report to their governing boards, funders and volunteers themselves about the valuable contribution made by volunteers.

We’ve developed a simple Excel template [XLSX, 37 KB] that your charity can use to collect the following information on a monthly basis:

• volunteer’s name
• date the person volunteered
• hours the person volunteered
• activity the volunteer completed, or project that the volunteer worked on.

Charity handbook

Finally, keep your information in one place so that it is handy for your volunteers by downloading the Charity Handbook. It’s designed to help you keep track of the information that you need to run your charity.  You can also use it as a handover document for new officers.

Volunteer New Zealand - research into the impacts of COVID-19 on volunteering

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard many stories of resilience and flexibility in the Community and Voluntary Sector. Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) has been highlighting some of these stories through their sector Hauora Wellbeing and State of Volunteering surveys. We caught up with Margaret McLachlan from VNZ to get some insight into what their research has been showing.

Two of the big takeaways were changes in what volunteers expected of their organisations, and an increased use of resources and digital tools. These affected the way the community response was managed and delivered. Some people learned about the importance of volunteering during the early stages of the pandemic. They realised they needed to do more to help their communities. This meant a wave of new volunteers entered the sector at a time of real need.

COVID- 19 has shown VNZ that the motivations and expectations of the individual and collective can align. When community needs were pressing, volunteers stepped up effectively in ways they designed themselves, at times that suited them, and at a frequency that fitted into their lives. Innovations in both technology and local partnership helped this succeed, while leaders evolved how they worked to accommodate it.

“Whakawhanaungatanga (building connections) and local mobilisation have been key to wellbeing and service provision. It will continue to be key with deeper connections within and across communities being a source of strength, flexibility and tenacity”.

The research shows that people in the sector have shown tenacity and flexibility in response to the challenges COVID-19 has presented. They have collaborated with others and extended networks and relationships more widely.

If you want to read more about the VNZ’s research, visit their website.

SECTOR SHOWCASE

Burn Support Charitable Trust

The Burn Support Charitable Trust is a registered charity whose vision is to provide support and assistance to burn survivors and their whānau (families).

Their events are safe havens for people to share stories and learn strategies, tips and techniques to enrich and empower their day to day lives. Learn more about the charity here.

To read all of our sector showcases or to find out how your charity could be featured in the future, click here.

NEWS OF INTEREST

Contact Centre remains unavailable

Unfortunately, our Contact Centre is temporarily unavailable so if you want to get in touch, please email us at info@charities.govt.nz. You can still call us and leave a message but due to significant call volumes at the moment, you may not always be able to leave a voice message. If you would prefer to talk, please send us an email and we will call you back. 

He Rourou Atawhai Zoom sessions

Click the links below to sign up for the next two Charities Services’ He Rourou Atawhai evening Zoom sessions! 

He Rourou Atawhai (Basket of Generosity) are quick and informal Zoom sessions that consist of short Charities Services presentations on a particular topic, and lots of time for questions and answers.

Governance: where to find resources and support - Wednesday 6 July 2022, 7:00pm to 7:45pm 

How to apply for registration - Wednesday 3 August 2022, 7:00 to 7:45pm 

Upcoming Webinars

Join us for a series of two webinars on the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022, which will enter fully into force around October 2023.

Presented by MBIE and supported by Charities Services, the webinars will look at:

Changes for incorporated societies under the new Act  (20 July)

Re-registering your incorporated society under the new Act (27 July)

For more information or to register, click the links above.

New blog posts 

5 things Charities need to know about the new Incorporated Societies Act

With the new Incorporated Societies Act taking effect, we have a short blog that looks at what charities need to know, including 5 things to help incorporated societies transition to the new Act. Read the blog here.  

Reflections on the 2022 New Zealand Charities Reporting Awards

Our guest blog features Dr Nive Botica Redmayne, a member of the judging panel for this year’s New Zealand Charity Reporting Awards. She shares her thoughts and reflections on the judging of this year’s winners. Read the write up here.

New Video – I can’t log into my account

Are you having trouble logging into your charity’s account because you’ve forgotten your password? Watch our quick tip video on how to reset your password.

UPDATES FROM WIDER GOVERNMENT

Making it easier and fairer for communities to access funding

Te Puna Tahua, Lottery Grants Board, is evolving the lottery grants and advisory system to make it easier and fairer for communities to access funding.

The Board has tasked Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs with this programme of work called Kia Tipu, He Tipua - Evolving the lottery grants system.

The aim of this work is to create a community funding and advisory support system that is more responsive, flexible, inclusive, strategic and honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The programme will engage widely with communities, hāpu, iwi and other funders to design an improved future system with people and communities at its heart.

You can find out more about this programme of work here: www.communitymatters.govt.nz/evolving-the-lottery-grants-system

Privacy 101 for Charities

Alongside representatives from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC), Charites Services held a webinar via Zoom that covered a brief overview of the Privacy Act 2020. To read the recap of the event head over to OPC's website. 

Reminder from Inland Revenue

Registering for GST

A reminder that although your charity may be tax exempt, in order to be eligible to register for GST the organisation must carry on a taxable activity. Receiving donations and (in most cases) grants do not constitute a taxable activity and do not meet consideration for supply of GST.

Further information can be found on Inland Revenue’s website: Income tax and GST for not-for-profits (ird.govt.nz)  and our guide: IR255 ‘Charitable and donee organisations.

When completing a GST registration, please make sure to provide as much information about the taxable activities of the charity to help IR process your application faster.

What information does IR require?

When an organisation is registered with Charities Services it is deemed to be tax exempt under section CW 41 and/or 42 of the Income Tax Act 2007. IR do not require financial information to be filed with income tax returns.

If the organisation uses business income for charitable purposes outside of New Zealand, income tax may be payable and returns will need to be filed. If this is how your organisation operates or would like further information, please get in contact with IR.

More information can be found on the IR website: Tax exemptions and donee status for charities or businesses operating for charities (ird.govt.nz)

Get in touch

As always, if you need to get in touch to update any details or would like more information about the above, please contact the Charities and Not-for-profit team through your myIR account.

Release of the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022.

The Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 comes into force from 1 July 2022 and replaces the Protected Disclosures Act 2000. It continues the 2000 Act’s purpose to facilitate the disclosure and investigation of serious wrongdoing in the workplace and provide protection for employees and other workers who report concerns. However, it makes changes to address issues and improvements that have been identified.

Public and private sector organisations have responsibilities under the new Act. All government organisations must have procedures for whistleblowing, and these will need to be updated. Private sector organisations need to be aware of the Act and how to handle protected disclosures made to them.

Information is on the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 page, and the Office of the Ombudsman’s resources will be updated for the new Act.

Please contact commission@publicservice.govt.nz with any questions about this.

RESOURCES

Read the plain text version of this email here.