Charities Commission Absorption Into DIA Supported
Charities Commission Absorption Into DIA
Supported
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate
release
26 August 2011
The New Zealand Trustees Association has announced support for the Government’s restructuring proposal to absorb the Charities Commission into the Department of Internal Affairs.
NZTA
President Jim Gray said “By moving the Charities
Commission into the DIA at the same time as reviewing the
Charities Act 2005, there will be an opportunity to create a
clearer and less costly process for appeal by charities
denied registration.”
Currently the cost of
challenging denial of registration is prohibitive for all
but the largest of charities where a High Court response is
the only process, and where charities have also been
required to dissect their organisation into charitable and
non-charitable entities at more cost.
Mr Gray said
“The Trustees Association was instrumental in development
of the Commission in the late 1990’s and now is equally
supportive of a restructuring for economic and procedural
benefits to meet the needs of the charitable
sector.”
NZTA found the Commission was far too
inflexible with their legal section’s interpretation of
the Charities Act to the detriment of some of New
Zealand’s well known and respected
charities.
-End