Increased powers have been given to Charities Services - the sector administrator - and to the Charities Registration Board.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan says New Zealand's 28,000 or so registered charities make a great contribution to the country.

The new charities law follows a review by Internal Affairs (DIA). The government ordered the review in 2018 after the Charities Registration Board deregistered Destiny Church's status as a charity.

The Board said Destiny's deregistration was in the public interest - it had failed to file financial returns for two years and had ignored multiple warnings in doing so.

Deregistration was as far as the Board could go though.

"Many of New Zealand's largest charities have significant unexplained accumulated funds. It is important they are transparent about the reasons for holding on to a large quantity of funds, including donations," says Radhakrishnan.

Very small charities would also be able to get an exemption to financial reporting.

"This will free up resources to allow volunteers to spend more time focused on communities and doing the mahi they are passionate about."

Making sure all charities are treated equally does matter. "It is important that our system doesn't work just for those who have the resources to navigate it. The same service and the same access must be available to everyone."

Proposed changes to the Act

• Charity requirements - maintaining a charitable purpose, having a rules document, and having qualified officers - will be made explicit.
• Larger charities (operating expenses over $140,000) must report reasons for accumulated funds on an annual returns form to be designed in consultation with the sector and iwi.
• Through Charities Services, very small charities can get exemptions from financial reporting. Threshold yet to be developed.
• Charities Registration Board membership will increase from three to five.
• The Board may disqualify an officer for 'serious wrongdoing' or a significant or persistent breach of obligations, without having to deregister the charity. Part of the 'serious wrongdoing' definition will be clarified.
• The Board must publish decisions if declining an application for registration and deregistering a charity. The Board and Charities Services must publish information on decision-making policies and procedures. Significant decisions will include a clear process for charities to raise objections.
• Charities Services' significant decisions, and existing decisions of the Board, will be able to be appealed. Appeals under the Act will go to the TIA first, before the High Court.
• Charities Services must consult with the sector when developing significant guidance material.
• Timeframes for submitting objections, administrative information and appeals is extended from 20 working days to two months.
• DIA will review Charities Services' performance measures and operational practices.

Radhakrishnan says she expects an amendment bill to be introduced this year, with consultation via the select committee process.

This would be followed up with a process to consider more fundamental concerns raised by the review.

Source

• RNZ

The matter was not on the agenda for this year's national conference which ended last week and the church says policy dictates that any resolution can only be revisited after three years. Read more

As a result major Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, have promised to reopen the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

It had been closed for three days as a protest against the proposed taxation regime.

The church - revered as the site where Jesus was crucified and resurrected - reopened yesterday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said a professional team would negotiate with church officials to "formulate a solution".

Jerusalem's major Christian churches say they are looking forward to engaging with the team.

They hope Jerusalem "remains a place where the three monotheistic faiths may live and thrive together."

Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat says the taxes would affect only commercial properties, not houses of worship.

He said other cities followed similar practices worldwide.

"As the mayor of the city of Jerusalem, my goal and role is to make sure people pay their taxes," he said before the tax plans were suspended.

"We have no negative or bad intentions here."

The churches say Barkat's taxation plans undermine a longstanding status quo.

They say their non-church properties - such as hotels, restaurants and offices - have a religious need, as they provide services to pilgrims and local church members.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Tzachi Hanegbi will lead the government's negotiating committee.

Committee members will include representatives from Jerusalem and the finance, foreign and interior ministries.

"The team will negotiate with the representatives of the churches to resolve the issue," a government statement said.

The Prime Minister's has also asked Hanegbi to look into land sales in Jerusalem, following a request by the heads of major churches.

Until he has reviewed the issue, all pending legislation on land sales will be shelved.

Source

• Crux Now
• Haaretz
• Samoa Observer
• Image: Catholic Bridge