Charities Board opens its doors

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) is pleased to report that the Charities Commission Board has agreed to further evidence being submitted in defence of NCWNZ’s bid to retain its charitable status. NCWNZ has until Friday 9 July 2010 to submit all material electronically.

“We are delighted that the Commission’s Board has opened its doors to us,” says Elizabeth Bang, NCWNZ National President. “Clearly, we will take this opportunity to present our case demonstrating our value to the public, and our many years of service for the benefit of society.”

The Charities Act 2005 requires that in order to be considered charitable, a group's main role needs to be religious, educational, providing for the poor, or providing for the public benefit.

“The Council has been working tirelessly, since 1896, because we believe that ending discrimination against women has many benefits for the New Zealand public,” says Elizabeth Bang.

NCWNZ will be calling upon the Charities Commission to build the privilege granted to the Council, into the process for dealing with all other organisations faced with deregistration.

“The precedent has been set,” says Elizabeth Bang. “We believe that in the absence of any form of assessment process for establishing the value of the services provided by NGOs, the Board will benefit from the evidence we provide. However, this cannot be a special compromise set for us only; this needs to be standard practise for all.”

Deregistration of any organisation has significant financial impacts. Alongside the financial impacts come operational impacts. In the case of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, this situation has lead to many important pieces of work being disrupted.

The NCWNZ membership has been heartened by support from Members of Parliament, who have made public statements in support of NCWNZ maintaining its charitable status. It is clear that the current approach being taken by the Charities Commission was indeed never the intent.

“We will submit our evidence to support our argument that the Council does act in manners which benefit the community and that it is of the public interest to maintain this body,” concludes Elizabeth Bang. “We will also make this information available publicly; this is part of our duty to support other organisations and the community.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media