Charities Services will be providing a new Charities Act Hub to provide information about the upcoming Charities Act changes and the changes to reporting requirements that are administered by The External Reporting Board (XRB).

The Charities Act 2005 has been amended by the Charities Amendment Bill, which came into force on 5 July 2023.

There are a wide range of changes for charities to be aware of. Charities Services will keep updating this new hub with information about the changes and when they will affect your charity. They will also be including information in their newsletter and on their Facebook page HERE, so please consider subscribing to these.

The changes announced by the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, focus on practical improvements to better support charities and improve trust and confidence in the sector.

“The changes will enable reduced reporting requirements for very small charities so they can focus on their important mahi 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, we want to ensure that our legislative settings are fit for them to continue supporting our communities into the future.

“Kiwis have been rated the second-most generous country in the world. Our charitable sector has an income of over $21 billion and these changes will continue to promote public trust and confidence in charitable giving,” Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.

Some changes come into effect immediately, but others will be seen over time. The changes come into play on three key dates between 2023 and 2024. The key upcoming changes can be viewed at the below link:

https://www.charities.govt.nz/charities-act-hub/charities-act-change-hub/

If you need any more information, you can email Charities Services at info@charities.govt.nz