Information for registered charities about COVID-19

Updated 20 January 2022

Here you will find answers to some of the questions you may have in regards to your obligations as a registered charity during this time and what support is available. For a list of further information or resources for registered charities please see our resources page.

All charities should read the guidelines and follow updates from the Government's COVID-19 website(external link). These include health advice for the public, guidance for different sectors and providers, and resources. 

We encourage you to consider the COVID-19 protection framework (traffic light system)(external link) and how it may affect your charity. Develop a plan for how your charity will operate under this framework, including any challenges or risks that might arise. If you are a community organisation and you need some resources have a look at CommunityNet Aotearoa’s COVID advice page(external link). If you are a business, we recommend that you also look at guidance on the business.govt.nz(external link) website.  

We will keep this guidance updated. If you have any questions, contact us at info@charities.govt.nz.

On this page you will find answers to the following questions:


How should my charity be operating under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system)?

Your charity should follow the Government's guidelines on how to operate under the traffic light system. We encourage you to keep referring to the Government's COVID-19 website(external link) and business.govt.nz(external link) for up to date information and guidance. No matter what traffic light system you are in, you should continue contact tracing and following good hygiene measures.

If you have questions about specific activities, let us know at info@charities.govt.nz and we will ask for them to be included in guidance.

How does my charity create a QR code for the government's contact tracing app? 

If you are a public facing organisation that has visitors or staff coming on site, you can generate a QR code poster for your premises as long as you have a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN). Charities need to register with Business Connect(external link) to get their QR code posters for their workplace.

To do this you will need the following information:

To find out more on how to do this, click here.(external link)

If you’re a legally incorporated charitable trust or society you will have been automatically allocated an NZBN and you can find this by searching for your organisation at nzbn.govt.nz(external link). This information is also available on your charity page on the Charities Register(external link).

If your organisation is not legally incorporated or you are an unincorporated group you still qualify and can apply for an NZBN. We have a blog post on this topic(external link) that has more information about qualifying for an NZBN.

To find out more information about NZBN visit nzbn.govt.nz(external link) or call the helpline on 0508 696 926.

Is there a template to set up a manual system to help with contact tracing if we don't have an NZBN?

Yes. You can set up a manual system by downloading a template for recording visitors here(external link).

What do I need to know about vaccine passes in the workplace and the vaccine pass verifier app? 

My Vaccine Pass is an official record of your COVID-19 vaccination status for use in New Zealand. It will allow you to access certain events and venues operating under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system).(external link)

Businesses and organisations can use the NZ Pass Verifier app(external link) to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep their community safe.

At certain traffic light settings, businesses and organisations are encouraged to use the app to check customers' My Vaccine Pass(external link).

Requirements will depend on the sector and the choices the business or organisation has made about how they will operate under the traffic light system. 

For the latest information on vaccines in the workplace please visit the Employment New Zealand website: Vaccines and the workplace(external link)

CommunityNet Aotearoa’s COVID advice page(external link) also has helpful information on vaccinations, the tracer app and QR codes.

How can I fundraise under the COVID-19 Protection Framework?

You can find information about fundraising under the traffic light system here.

Should I consider temporarily putting my charity on hold during this time?

Whether your charity remains open will depend on what you are established to do, and whether it’s safe and practical to operate.  If you aren’t sure of your purposes, check your rules document on the Charities Register(external link).

We also encourage you to use the Charities Register(external link) to see if there is a charity you can join or collaborate with going forward. We advise that you get in touch with your local volunteering centre(external link). If you want to lend your efforts to another group you should be doing this through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) authorised Volunteering Centre network.

How would I put my charity on hold or wind up my charity as a result of COVID-19?

If you are struggling, you may want to consider putting your charity on hold. This will depend on how your charity’s rules document is written, but it may be as simple as setting a date when your governing committee will reconvene. If you have employees, you’ll need to seek independent legal advice if thinking about this. You will still need to provide annual reporting to Charities Services while you are on hold.

If you are thinking of winding up, remember that any surplus you have must be distributed to charitable purposes. You will have a wind-up clause in your rules document. This clause will inform you of where any surplus money or assets should be distributed to.  

You may want to distribute your funds to other charities fulfilling a similar purpose (subject to your winding up clause requirements), or create a fund with your local Community Foundation. We have a blog covering options for when you are ending a charity(external link) that may be helpful.

What if I have had to cancel or postpone my Annual General Meeting (AGM) or other key events/meetings?

Your charity’s rules may be flexible enough to allow you to postpone your AGM, or hold your AGM remotely, through platforms such as Skype or Zoom. You may be also able to present your performance report electronically for approval. We have a blog on how to be flexible with your rules that can help you prepare under the COVID-19 protection framework.

While charities are generally required to follow their rules, we won’t take compliance action against charities that are taking practical steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must prioritise taking steps to minimise social contact, even if this breaches your rules on how you should carry out your AGM or meetings.

If you have other key activities or events coming up, that involve bringing people together, consider if they can offered in different ways (such as webinars). We recommend you refer to the Government's COVID-19 website(external link) for the latest guidance and updates on gatherings under the Traffic Light system.

COVID-19 is likely to have had an impact on a number of events and this may continue over the coming months. We always recommend that you check your rules document, as it should set out the procedures for holding your meeting, including timing of the meeting (for example, within three months of the end of your charity’s financial year), requirements to give notice, the number of people that need to attend (known as the quorum), and how voting can occur.

You can find a copy of your charity’s rules document by searching for your charity on the online Charities Register(external link), and clicking on the “Charity Documents” tab. If you have other key activities or events coming up, that involve bringing people together, consider if they can be postponed or offered in different ways (such as webinars). 

What if I need an extension to file my annual return, or need to be urgently re-registered?

Registered charities have six months after the end of their financial year to submit annual returns and financial statements/performance reports.

If your charity’s annual return is due shortly, but COVID-19 means you won’t be able to file your documents on time, you can ask for an extension. To do this, please email info@charities.govt.nz and let us know how much extra time you need. 

Please only request an extension if your annual return due date is within 2 months’ time. That means for charities with balance dates on 30 April 2021 (with due dates 31 October 2021), please only request an extension from September 2021. Extensions will still be available at that time, recognising the challenges faced by charities by COVID-19.

If you find you have been removed as a charity, and need to re-register urgently, you can do so by logging into your charity’s online account(external link), and sending us an email to info@charities.govt.nz. If you need access to your account, email us and explain your position at the charity.

Can I make temporary changes to constutitions or rules? 

The Government has reinstated the temporary compliance relief measures contained in the COVID-19 Response Act 2020. This temporary legislation allows charities to make certain changes to their rules and do some things electronically. This means that if you are affected by COVID-19 restrictions and need to temporarily conduct business, hold a vote remotely, or defer an audit, you can do so up until 30 April 2022, even if this is not normally permitted by your rules. You can find more information on the Companies Office's COVID hub(external link).

Your rules document will usually have an amendment clause that explains how you can make changes to your rules. If you don’t already have this clause in your rules, we recommend you talk to a lawyer about getting one added. 

What can I do to support staff and volunteers during this time?

Charities play an important role in educating and reassuring employees, volunteers, and other stakeholders. If you are continuing to operate, you need to ensure you are doing so safely. This means making provisions about how to keep your staff, volunteers, customers, members and stakeholders safe.

  • Reassure your team that you care about their health and safety. 
  • Communicate any changes to how you do your work or deliver programmes to your beneficiaries and stakeholders.
  • Consider how you can accommodate the needs of staff or volunteers who may be vulnerable to COVID or have other work or home commitments. CommunityNet has some good guidance on remote working(external link) that can help.
  • Whether at home or in shared spaces, promote good hygiene (washing hands frequently, coughing into elbows, cleaning frequently-touched surfaces, and avoiding physical contact).
  • Remind any employees of your organisation’s policies related to illness and sick leave and consider being flexible with sick leave for those who are ill or are caring for sick family members, or who have to stay at home but cannot work. Employment New Zealand has good guidance(external link), and the Government is offering support to allow for sick leave options to be provided.
  • Direct staff and volunteers to the Government's COVID-19 website(external link) for updates.

What about finances and funding?

Many charities may see a change in their financial position either because of increased demand for services or because their service is no longer available to the public. Some charities have missed the opportunity for their annual street appeal or other fundraising events. Charities that raise funds through products or services may also be seeing a decrease in revenue.

Look at what you have in the bank and what you can pull out of reserves, if you have them. Are you able to continue operating on your current budget? Will you need to make some changes? Are you still applying for funds/grants and have you revised your operational plan for the year? 

If you have funding targeted for other purposes that you want to use now, it is important  to talk to your funder to see if you can change the purpose of your grant. Remember to communicate with your stakeholders and ask them for support if they are in a position to do so.

Think carefully about your fundraising policy in general. Talk to or assemble a fundraising team: there might be opportunities to pursue different fundraising options in the next few months. Take the opportunity to engage with your donors – and make sure they are ok.

We also recommend that you look at CommunityNet Aotearoa’s COVID advice page(external link) that has detailed information on financial support schemes that are currently available.

What funding is available to support my charity throughout COVID-19?

There are a range of funds to support recovery from COVID-19:

There is also financial support available:

What if my auditor/reviewer can’t do an on-site visit?

All charities with operating expenditure of over $550,000 (review) or $1,100,000 (audit) need to get their performance report/financial statement audited or reviewed. Charities also need to get their performance report/financial statement audited or reviewed if their rules say they have to (although they can change your rules if this is not needed).

If auditors/accountants can't complete onsite visits due to social distancing or traffic light restrictions and you require more time, please contact us by emailing info@charities.govt.nz to request an extension.

What can charities do to help?

In a time of need, charities are essential to meeting need in communities, but it’s important that charities follow their rules document and are acting within their charitable purpose.

There may be charities that could be better placed to provide support, and your group may be able to offer help to those groups. Searching the Charities Register(external link) is a great way to identify charities that operate in your area. Check what help is needed on their website or Facebook pages.

What else should my committee or board think about?

It is important that your board is still meeting (remotely) and actively doing some strategic planning. Your board should be thinking about how to govern and manage any risks your charity may encounter. If you have management and employees, you should work closely with them in identifying upcoming risks to your charity. Being flexible is key here.

  • Start the conversation about finances and investments (if they are relevant to your charity) and think about how cancelled services or programmes may impact your budget.
  • Take the opportunity to review your rules, health and safety policies, and risk policies. Consider making changes to allow for flexibility. Your charity could also use this time to update any health and safety policies and procedures to cover how you will operate in the future. You can find some great resources here(external link).
  • Make sure you have a plan for the safety of your staff, volunteers and stakeholders.
  • The COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system)(external link) may cause disruptions to your operation. Think about what will work best for your charity and whether you will need to make changes. Will you need to increase staff because demand is higher? Do you have the budget for your current staff levels if your revenue has decreased? Take some time now to do some future planning. There are many resources to help(external link).

Good leadership is vital right now and boards need to discuss how they will do business and make decisions.  Please remember to review how you are going to communicate with your stakeholders, clients and members.

Be mindful that different members of your team may perceive the threat differently or have special concerns based on their life circumstances. For example, persons with elderly family members may be especially concerned.

How are scammers using COVID-19?

Scammers are using COVID-19 to steal information and gain access to individuals’ devices. These scams take the form of emails and text messages pretending to be from known organisations. An example of a current scam email claims to be from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and includes a file for ‘Immunity tips’ against COVID-19. Once the file is opened it releases malware, sending personal information to the scammer.

Always be cautious if you're asked to make changes to bank details or make payments to a new account. Wherever possible. follow the procedures that your charity has in place to validate and authenticate any such messages. If in doubt, do not make the changes and try and contact the company or organisation by phone first.

Most emails from legitimate organisations will not include attachments. If you receive an unexpected email from a business or organisation with attachments, do not open them. Always question unsolicited offer of good or other financial support where an advanced fee payment is required.

Do not click hyperlinks in suspicious emails or text messages. In many cases they look legitimate, however the hyperlinks usually direct you to a scam website. Before clicking links in an email, hover your mouse over the hyperlinked text and if it is directing you to a web address that looks incorrect then it is likely to be a scam.

If you get a suspicious text message, delete the contact from your phone and contact the company directly to confirm if it was a scam.

Where to find more information about spam and online scams :

How can I stay in touch with my community about COVID-19 within the rules around spam?

We appreciate that you want to get in touch with your communities about COVID-19. Here’s how to do it without breaching the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007.

Before sending an email or text message, consider the following:

  • There are already many communications being issued regarding COVID-19 so consider whether it is necessary to send a message in the first instance.
  • Consider whether your message could be added to the front page of your website instead.
  • If you do need to send a message, please clearly identify yourself within your message, particularly if it’s a text message.
  • Provide clear and accurate contact information within your message in case the recipient needs to get in touch with you.
  • Do not send messages to people who are no longer members or have previously unsubscribed from your messages.

You’ll find more information about how to avoid spamming your communities here(external link). This links to information for businesses and the same rules apply to charities and community groups.

If you have other questions, relevant to charities in Aotearoa New Zealand, email info@charities.govt.nz.  

Kia noho haumaru (Be safe).