Part of our role here at Charities Services is to provide educational support to the charities sector. This includes providing information and resources to make it easier for charities to do their job. In this newsletter we announce the release of two new resources that we’ve created based on the feedback that smaller charities need more support. I’m excited about these resources because I believe they will help smaller charities to meet their reporting requirements and support them to govern their charities more effectively. You can find links to these resources below.

In each newsletter we also profile a charity in our Sector Showcase. This newsletter we hear from the Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines, who we met at the Annual Meeting.

This week is Charity Fraud Awareness Week and I encourage you to think about the fraud detection and prevention mechanisms that your charity has in place. Although a  2016 survey about fraud in the not-for-profit-sector revealed that fraud awareness in the charities sector is low, it is important that charities are aware that the risk of fraud in the sector is very real. Throughout Charity Fraud Awareness Week we will be posting a range of useful resources to our Facebook page and website. A number of people who attended the Annual Meeting said they don't regularly use social media so we always make sure that the useful resources we promote on our Facebook page are also uploaded to our website and included in our newsletters so no one misses out.

We will also be hosting a live webinar on how to detect and prevent fraud. The webinar will be held on Thursday 24 October 2019. You can register here. If you can't watch the webinar live, don't worry. It will be available afterwards on our Youtube channel and our website.

Please do let us know if you have any ideas for tools and resources that you think will help you, and other charities in the sector, with things like reporting and good governance. You can send us an email at anytime to info@charities.govt.nz. We're always looking for ways to make it easier for you so you can spend more time on the important work you do for our communities.

Ngā mihi,

Natasha Weight
General Manager

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A successful Annual Meeting for Charities Services

Almost 200 people from New Zealand charities gathered at the recently re-opened Christchurch Town Hall on 23 September 2019 to attend the Charities Services Annual Meeting.

We value the Annual Meeting as a chance to meet and hear from a wide range of charities to better understand what we are doing well and how we can improve. It is also a time to celebrate the work of our diverse charitable sector.

Photo: The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hon Poto Williams, Dr Duncan Webb, Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central, and representatives from Te Rātā Atawhai, the independent Charities Registration Board, and Charities Services at this year's Annual Meeting in Christchurch.

The recently appointed Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hon Poto Williams, opened the meeting with her vision for the sector and she provided an update on the modernisation of the Charities Act 2005. Acknowledging the large number of submissions received during the consultation period, she was clear that “the community must, should and can drive government policy”.

Roger Holmes Miller, Chair of Te Rātā Atawhai, the independent Charities Registration Board, shared this theme of social change by calling for charity law to be responsive to the dynamic nature of the sector. “Looking forward, Te Rātā Atawhai prefers an approach to charity law that is responsive to the way that charities and New Zealand society work in 2019.”  

Natasha Weight, General Manager of Charities Services, wrapped up the speeches by outlining Charities Services’ plans for the upcoming year, as well as the progress achieved to date. She highlighted Charities Services’ aim to be a modern, responsive and risk-based regulator including the use of modern tools to provide support. She further emphasised the importance of being responsive to the needs of the sector. “Being a responsive regulator is about listening”, asking the audience “how can we support you better?”

Natasha also spoke about the mahi (work) being done in response to feedback from both small charities and Māori charities and announced the release of new resources to support them.

The meeting concluded with a question and answer session with Charities Services staff. This was an opportunity for us to understand what charities need, and what frustrates them about the current system. 

Photo: Q&A at the Annual Meeting

Charities also had a chance to speak with staff over lunch before the meeting, and again at the end as they enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee. Feedback on the meeting was positive. One attendee told us: “It was very good to have a face-to-face meeting, question and answer, and informal discussion after. The speakers were clearly spoken and conveyed information so it was readily understood. I feel more relaxed about the annual return process and there was helpful printed material. The staff were all helpful and friendly.”

We also launched the Charities Services Annual Review Report, which includes data from the sector, outlines our work over the past year, and our plans for the year ahead. You can read and download the report from our website. A big thank you to all the charities who shared their photos with us. If you have a photo of your charity that you would like to share with us, please send it through.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, don’t worry. You can watch the meeting on our Youtube channel. We also want to hear from you. If there is any feedback or advice you have or if there is something you would like from us, be it a resource, more guidance or other kinds of support please let us know. You can email us at any time at info@charities.govt.nz.

How to complete your performance report and annual return 

This resource is intended to help Tier 4 charities complete their performance report and submit their annual return. 

As a registered charity you are required to complete your performance report and submit your annual return no later than six months after the end of your financial year. This short, simple guide outlines what you will need to complete your performance report and annual return easily and accurately.

Click here to read our How to complete your performance report and annual return guide.

SECTOR SHOWCASE

Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines

Photo: Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines proudly represents New Zealand on the world stage.

Over 70 years of sisterhood

Founded in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sweet Adelines started as a small group of women who loved to sing. Since then it has evolved into an organisation of more than 21,000 singers that spans the globe, connecting women around the world in one sisterhood.

Sweet Adelines’ membership is incredibly diverse, with women from all corners of the world ranging from stay-at-home mothers to CEOs. There are 700 members throughout Aotearoa, dedicating themselves to advancing the barbershop art form and enriching the community through performance, education and musical excellence.

For our showcase this month, we shine the spotlight on the Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines, often referred to as the “All Blacks of singing”, and for good reason.

The eleven-time national champions took seventh place at this year’s Sweet Adelines International competition held in New Orleans. The group received a standing ovation for their rendition of “Poi-e” as they wrapped the finale in true Aotearoa style.

"Reaching the finals is the pinnacle of three solid years of learning and performing, and we are thrilled to be experiencing the prestige of competing for New Zealand on the international stage”, said co-founder and master director, Virginia Humphrey-Taylor.

Giving back

While the love of acapella music is in the heart of every Sweet Adelines, it’s not the only thing that keeps this Christchurch group humming. They extend the chorus community spirit of support, friendship and warmth into the wider Christchurch community through charitable work.

Photo: Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines turned into Christmas angels over the Christmas season, donating hundreds of gifts annually to the Christchurch City Mission Women's Centre.

Over the years the group has supported Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand and the Christchurch City Mission. They have raised donations, performed at charity events and provided goods and voluntary services to the foodbank and the Christchurch City Mission Women’s Centre. Following the 15 March 2019 Christchurch terror attacks the group showed their support and aroha (love) for the Muslim community by making handmade quilts for the families of victims.

With more than 70 years of sisterhood, the Sweet Adelines continue to welcome women of all languages, nationalities and backgrounds to join in the joy of giving back and, of course, the art of barbershop harmony.

You can watch the group’s performance at this year’s Sweet Adelines International competition, which includes their rendition of “Poi-e” on YouTube.

To find out more about this chorus, or other registered charities in New Zealand, you can search the Charities Register. 

NEWS OF INTEREST 

The future of cheques

Did you know that Kiwibank is set to become cheque-free by 28 February 2020? If you bank with them and you use bank cheques, we recommend you take a look at the information available on their website about this change.

To assist their customers, Kiwibank is running free digital banking courses at selected community centres and libraries around the country. They are also making a facility available to allow people to continue to make donations using different methods such as internet and phone banking, and by visiting any Kiwibank branch.  

Please note that while some organisations, such as ACC and Inland Revenue, are also moving away from cheques, Charities Services have no current plans to phase out the use of cheques.

A report into the future of governance

What does "good governance" mean for your charity?

A report into the future of governance for New Zealand’s 114,000 not-for-profit organisations, produced by the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) in partnership with the Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, has identified the need to improve governance capabilities for not-for-profit boards and committee members.

Based on interviews with experts in governance across New Zealand, the report recommends the development of a national strategy for community governance.

"This would focus on providing easily accessible support for board and committee members to learn the basics of governance, backed with practical advice, coaching and mentoring for chairs, board members, and boards to apply best practice."

For more information and to read the report click here.

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