Our most recent statistics show that more than 200,000 New Zealanders volunteer their time to support registered charities every week, and their mahi adds up to more than 1.5 million hours worked on average every week. These are incredible numbers that speak volumes of the support that volunteers provide for charities and our communities. I encourage you to take a look at these statistics below.

In this pānui (newsletter), we are joined by Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan, the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. She has spent most of her career working with diverse communities across Aotearoa, and I’m delighted that she has shared some words for the sector in this issue.

For many charities, it’s time to do your annual reporting. If your charity’s balance date (end of financial year) is 31 December, your annual return is due to be filed with us by 30 June. If it is 31 March, then you have until 30 September to file. This pānui includes lots of information and resources to support charities with their reporting.

Before I sign off I would like to thank all volunteers for their important mahi. Koutou ngā kaitūao katoa o te motu - E kore e pahawa i te kupu ngā mihi mo ōu mahi whakahirahira (to all volunteers across the country, words are insufficient to express my thanks for the important work you do).

Natasha Weight
General Manager, Kaiwhakahaere Matua

A word from the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

The most recent figures tell us that our volunteers are working increased hours each week. What the figures don’t tell us is the significant resilience and generosity of spirit that drives the charitable and not-for-profit sector in Aotearoa.

I have been lucky enough to work alongside volunteers most of my career – and I continue to volunteer alongside many others when I can. I feel incredibly grateful to know that there are so many in our communities who contribute their time, energy and skills to make Aotearoa New Zealand an even better place.

This National Volunteer Week, I encourage you to thank and celebrate the hard working volunteers in your group or community. The celebration of the value of hard work is embodied in this whakatauki:

Whakanuia te tangata ringa raupā.
Celebrate a person with calloused hands.

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine - #NVW2021

New Zealanders are amongst the most generous in the world when it comes to volunteering.

Approximately 21.5% of New Zealanders volunteer in our communities, providing millions of volunteer hours a year and making a significant economic contribution.

Volunteers are often the very backbone of charities whose mahi is incredibly important to the success of many organisations. 

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu (National Volunteer Week) recognises and celebrates the collective contribution of all volunteers who enrich our communities every day. This year, National Volunteer Week runs from 20 to 26 June and the theme is ‘Recognise. Connect. Reimagine’ - #NVW2021.

Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) has created a range of promotional materials that you can customise and use to promote and celebrate volunteers for all their important mahi. You can download posters, images and more here. 

VNZ also have a Best Practice Toolkit to assist you in supporting your volunteers. It includes a team performance indicator to help you identify the talents among your team members, a goal planner and more. 

It’s reporting time, check your balance date!

If your charity’s balance date (end of financial year) is 31 December, your annual return is due to be filed by 30 June. If it is 31 March, then you have until 30 September to file. We have a range of information and guidance on our website to help you.

You will need your password to log into your charity’s dashboard. If you have forgotten your password, simply click the ‘Forgotten your password’ link and a new password will be sent to the primary contact for your charity.

Please note that banks across the country will stop accepting cheques from mid-2021. This means that Charities Services can no longer accept cheques as payment as of 1 June 2021. You can now pay for your annual return fees online by internet banking. Simple instructions on how to pay online are on our website.

If you have any questions related to reporting, we’re here to help! Please email us at info@charities.govt.nz or you can book into a clinic and get some one-on-one help. Clinics are held every Thursday and we can Zoom you or call you.

QUICK NEWS OF INTEREST 

Charities volunteering statistics

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.

The latest figures show that charities around the country have been doing more with less. While there's been a 4% decrease in the average number of volunteers per week, there has also been a 3% increase in the mahi they do. This shows the resourcefulness and hard work of charities.

For more volunteering insights, such as which organisations have the highest number of volunteers and diversity of volunteer involvement within the charitable sector, take a look at our latest volunteering data. 

Charities Services recognises and thanks all volunteers of registered charities for their ongoing contribution to making Aotearoa a better place for all of us.

Webinar: Societies, Trusts, Companies – which structure is right for your charity?

On 2 June, Charities Services presented a webinar on the main types of structures a charity may choose to be, including societies, trusts and companies. The content is aimed at groups thinking about starting a charity, as well as charities interested in learning more about the key features of their structure.

A recording of the webinar, including the presentation slides, is now available on our website. 

Women in Governance Awards 2021

Photo: Sina Cotter-Tait, Caren Rangi ONZM, Evelyn Taumaunu, Jessie Chan and Jo Cribb

Ka rawe (well done) and a big congratulations to all the winners of the Women in Governance Awards.

The national Women in Governance programme recognises and celebrates innovation, excellence, creativity and commitment to diversity by both organisations and individuals.

The winners were announced at a special Awards Gala dinner held in Auckland on 10 June.

Congratulations to: Ruralco (Gender Diverse Organisation of the Year), Salome Nduta (Not-for-Profit Governance Leader), Evelyn Taumaunu (Māori Governance Leader), Caren Rangi ONZM (Pacific Governance Leader), Sina Cotter-Tait (Emerging Governance Leader), Thankyou Payroll (Gender Diverse Organisation of the Year), Jessie Chan (Inspiring Governance Leader) and Jo Cribb (Not-for-Profit Governance Leader).

What we need to thrive - a report on community service and COVID-19

Hui E! Community Aotearoa has released a summary report on the effects of COVID-19 on the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector in Aotearoa.

The report includes analysis of a 2020 survey that found that the hardest hit have been organisations serving Māori, Pasifika, other ethnic communities, and organisations with low to medium incomes and operating budgets.

The report also includes key trends from the survey and proposed solutions. Click here to read the report ‘What we need to thrive: writing a new story of community service in Aotearoa New Zealand’.

Do you have a great image that tells the story of your charity?

 Photo: Porirua Community Arts Council

Do you want to show off the great mahi that your people do? 

Charities Services is putting out a call for photos that could be featured in the resources and the Annual Review that we produce. If you have a great image that you want to share with us, then this is what you need to know.

The photo needs to be of a high quality and size suitable for publication. When choosing an image, think about what you are saying with it. Dynamic images that show people doing something are better. Make sure it isn’t blurry or too dark. Think about how it is framed and where the eye is drawn to in the image.

You will need to get the permission of everyone who is in the photo and if there are children in the photo you will need the permission of their parents or caregivers.

By sending us your photos, you will be allowing Charities Services to use the photo in different publications and online, but we will credit your charity. 

Don’t be shy! Send your photos to info@charities.govt.nz and include the word ‘Photos’ in the subject line. Please note that before we can use your photos, we would need to make sure that your charity is compliant as a registered charity, so remember to include your charity registration (CC) number. We would also require a statement that you have been given permission to use the image by the people in the photo.

Myth busting

When we’re out and about, we often hear myths about what charities can and can't do.

Our Myth Busting series is a regular feature where we address some misconceptions and bust some myths about the obligations of charities.

This month we’re looking at who can register as a charity. You can read the Myth busting feature on our website. 

SECTOR SHOWCASE

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) is a not-for-profit organisation that’s all about inspiring environmental change by connecting people with nature.

Through CVNZ’s project-based volunteering programmes, people can get involved in a wide range of projects that care for the environment and protect some of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable wildlife. You can read the full sector showcase here. 

WIDER GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Funding dates for Hāpai Hapori Community Operations

Do you want to know more about the funding dates for 2021? Hāpai Hapori has a full funding calendar available on their website. It includes dates for a variety of different funds administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Hāpai Hapori is always keen to hear from groups and organisations about how they can work with you. You can email Hāpai Hapori at community.matters@dia.govt.nz or find your nearest regional office to connect with a local advisor.

You can also meet one-on-one with a Hāpai Hapori staff member at our online clinics every Thursday. Sign up for a ‘funding clinic’ here to meet with a Hāpai Hapori staff member.

Inland Revenue's phone service for charities

Inland Revenue is implementing a dedicated phone service to ensure charities’ queries are answered by a specifically trained Customer Service Officer. 

This service will be available later this year and will be open initially from 10am – 2pm Monday to Friday.

Charities can still call through the usual 0800 numbers and be automatically re-directed to the right channels. Charities will be informed when this service is live. Watch this space!

COVID-19 Tax relief for donations of trading stock

New legislation makes it easier for businesses to donate trading stock to approved donee organisations (which are mostly registered charities) as well as to public authorities and non-associated persons.

The legislation applies to disposals of trading stock made between 17 March 2020 and 16 March 2022 (inclusive).

For more information about this change visit IR's website.

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

For passion and purpose - resources for directors

If you are a governing member of a community organisation, the Institute of Directors website has a wealth of information and resources to support you.

The essentials of being a director guide outlines the main areas effective directors should focus on and is available in English and te reo Māori.

The conflicts of interest practice guide is designed to help people manage conflicts of interests in the boardroom.

There are also board meeting templates available to help organisations prepare annual plans, board papers, minutes and agendas. These are all free and downloadable from Institute of Directors’ not-for-profit governance hub.

RESOURCES

Read the plain text version of this email here.