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Charities, elections and political parties

Created: June 19, 2020 at 5:11 PM | Updated: June 19, 2020 | By NZ Navigator Trust

In election years charities need to ensure they are independent from political parties and candidates. 

Why? The most important thing is ensuring that any activity charities carry out is in support of their charitable purpose, and in the best interests of their charity. This is because an organisation set up to be a political party or support a political party cannot be a charity.

Although charities must not support or oppose a political party or candidate, there are lots of ways that charities can express support for a particular policy of a political party.

You can find out more about what your charity can and cannot do here:  https://charities.govt.nz/im-a-registered-charity/running-your-charity/charities-elections-and-political-parties/

And you can read more about ensuring your organisation is heard here:  https://www.charities.govt.nz/ready-to-register/need-to-know-to-register/charitable-purpose/advocacy-for-causes/ 

 

https://charities.govt.nz/im-a-registered-charity/running-your-charity/charities-elections-and-political-parties/ (opens in a new window)

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Charities in NZ must retain their independence from political parties and candidates. Although charities can express support for a particular policy of a political party that is important to their charitable purpose, a charity must not support or oppose a political party or candidate.

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