The Charities Commission - Komihana Kaupapa Atawhai - registers and monitors charities in accordance with the Charities Act 2005.
We also provide support and education to the charitable sector on good governance and management.
Click on the quicklinks on the right-hand side of this page to:
If you are already registered with us you can click on the quick links to find out more about notifying us about changes to your charity, filing Annual Returns and how to promote your registration status.
Our free information line 0508 CHARITIES (0508 242 748) is available for telephone enquiries from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Please note: all calls to the Charities Commission’s free information line are recorded. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to us, or you can email info@charities.govt.nz.
Key statistics released
For the first time, the Charities Register has brought together up-to-date information about individual charities, from which we can obtain information about the charitable sector and its work. The numbers may surprise you - take a look.
Payroll Giving
Payroll giving is a voluntary scheme that enables people to make donations directly from their pay to a chosen “donee organisation”. People who donate through payroll giving receive immediate tax credits relating to the donations they make each payday. View more
The Charities Act, fundraising costs, and charitable purposes
Charities are sometimes asked “how much of the money donated to you is spent on your cause and how much goes to admin and other costs?” Charities balance the need to keep costs low with the need to provide the best possible outcomes for their beneficiaries. There are always costs associated with raising money and providing services and there is no law or rule of thumb about how a charity spends donations that have been given to it for the general purposes of that charity. Read more information about this topic.
Updated information sheet - Group Registration
Information sheet for donors, supporters and volunteers
New information sheet - Deregistration – removing charities from the Charities Register
New information sheet - Charitable purpose and community and economic development
New information sheet - Guidance on the 'public benefit' test
Updated information sheet - Charitable purpose and sport and recreation organisations
As at 31 December 2009 there are 24,319 charities on the Charities Register.
As well as providing searchable information about individual charities, the Charities Register can give a “snapshot” of the charitable sector in New Zealand. Take a look, to see where charities are operating, their main activities, who they are helping, and the sectors they are operating in.
Registered charities must file an Annual Return with the Commission, within six months of their balance date.
Annual Return information helps the Commission monitor registered charities to ensure they continue to qualify for registration and provides information to the public about how charities carry out their charitable purpose.
Annual Returns and accompanying financial information are published on the Charities Register. View the Annual Return info sheet for more information about filing a return.
The Commission has recently published:
Previous SOIs and Annual Reports are archived under Publications
Remember – you can apply to register with the Commission at any time
If your organisation is new or is seeking charitable-purpose tax exemptions for the first time, you must be registered with us to be eligible for tax exemptions.
Our information finder will help you find out more about how and when to apply for registration, your tax status and more.
If your charity had a charitable-purpose tax exemption before 1 July 2008, that exemption has now expired, and you need to be registered with us to be eligible for future tax exemptions.