by Lesley Hames | Oct 23, 2019 | Societies and Charities Articles |
Background The Law Commission’s 2013 Report, A New Act for Incorporated Societies, noted at paragraph 7.58 that: During our consultation we were constantly told of the need for education and guidance for societies in drafting their constitutions and in running societies in general. An internet-based constitution builder tool would provide that guidance and would greatly enhance the quality of constitutions for incorporated societies. Not only would it offer the rules from the model constitution, but it could offer guidance for societies to help them consider whether those rules are suitable for their situation. It could offer additional rules to those included in the model constitution, and alternative rules in various subject areas to suit various types of society. Just over 6 years later, in October 2019 the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and the Registrar of Incorporated Societies made a society constitution-builder available for public use – see Constitution Builder. The first page of the website introduces the society constitution-builder with helpful background information: Every incorporated society is required to have a constitution or set of rules, stating clearly how it intends to be run. These rules must cover certain basic functions and responsibilities, such as why the society exists, the conditions of membership, and how the society will hold meetings, make decisions and elect officers. To help you draft your constitution, we’ve designed the Constitution Builder, a ‘do-it-yourself’ online tool for writing or revising your society’s rules. This tool is able to produce a draft document that contains most of the content required in a constitution; however, it should not be considered a substitute...
by Lesley Hames | Sep 23, 2019 | Societies and Charities Articles |
Introduction Most not-for-profit organisations (societies and charitable trusts, abbreviated to N-f-P’s in these notes) are governed and managed by well-intentioned, honest people, but many of those people lack some or all of the knowledge and skills about the decision-making and record-keeping required in such an organisation. The sections that follow provide a brief guide to help get people started, but, first, some preliminary advice: What follows is only a brief overview of the essential requirements for good N-f-P record-keeping, and: It may be helpful if every incoming N-f-P Committee is provided with some basic training in governance, and An N-f-P may be well-advised to engage someone to provide such hands-on training or to advise the secretary and treasurer (or, possibly, to be responsible for some specific tasks). Where an N-f-P is incorporated under a statute (such as the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or Charitable Trusts Act 1957) it gains the benefits of being an incorporated entity, and: The statute under which it is incorporated sets out general requirements for the entity’s governance, management and operations (as noted below, there may be some other statutes applicable to some of the organisation’s activities), It follows that those in charge of the entity need to be aware of and understand that legislation (noting that penalties may be imposed on people who fail to comply with the requirements in applicable Acts of Parliament), and There are annual reporting obligations (for instance to the Registrar of Incorporated Societies or to Charities Services), and Both the Registrar and Charities Services (if the N-f-P is a charity) must be provided with details of a registered office...
by Lesley Hames | Sep 23, 2019 | Societies and Charities Articles |
Introduction Those involved in the governance of a not-for-profit entity (incorporated society or charity, whether or not incorporated under any statute) have duties and responsibilities: These may be specified in the constitution of the not-for-profit entity, They may be specified in any legislation under which the not-for-profit entity may be incorporated or which applies to the entity, Such duties may have been recognised by a Court, and Some such duties may be ethical. In summary, those in governance need to comply with the law, be totally honest, and apply themselves diligently to their duties. This article does not discuss the details of duties found in statutes, constitutions or Court decisions but, rather, obligations relating to the processes and behaviours usually required of those governing entities. Compliance with duties in statutes, constitutions or Court decisions Consistent with the previous sentence, no reference is made to specific legal duties owed under any statute, constitution or Court decisions, but those in governance are obliged, in good conscience, to comply with their legal obligations. Conduct related to being a “good steward” Collectively, those in governance of any organisation are the temporary custodians of the organisation and are, collectively, expected (by the organisation’s members, but often by others in the community, and by law) to: Comply with their legal obligations and duties, Maintain and improve the good reputation of an entity, and Mostly importantly, advance the attainment of the entity’s purposes. Conduct related to compliance with the law and ethics Individually, those in governance need to comply with their legal obligations (found in the organisation’s constitution and relevant statutes) and their ethical...
by Lesley Hames | Aug 12, 2019 | BvonD News, Societies and Charities Articles |
Not-for-Profits and New Zealand Business Numbers The New Zealand Business Number Act 2016 provides that incorporated societies registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908, charitable trusts incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957, friendly societies and credit unions registered under the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982, and industrial and provident societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1908 are eligible to obtain a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN). An amendment to the Incorporated Societies Regulations 1979 and the Charitable Trusts Regulations 2019 (both of which are in force from 30 September 2019) require any New Zealand Business Number under the New Zealand Business Number Act 2016 allocated to a registered incorporated society or charitable trust to be noted on the Register at http://www.societies.govt.nz While having a NZBN may be of more obvious benefit to businesses, the anticipated benefits must also apply to not-for-profits. What is a New Zealand Business Number? The New Zealand Business Number Act 2016 was enacted on 15 April 2016, and most of it came into force in mid-May. A New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is a unique a 13 digit Global Location Number (GLN) assigned to businesses and other entities, including not-for-profits, in New Zealand and usable worldwide. Use of NZBNs is expected to transform how entities with NZBNs share key information and interact with Government and with each other. Each NZBN is a 13 digit Global Location Number (GLN). What are the benefits of NZBNs? According to Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce (and his quoted comments should apply to not-for-profits): “NZBNs are a key initiative of the Government’s Better for Business...
by Lesley Hames | Jun 28, 2019 | Societies and Charities Articles |
NOTE These notes, prepared by Mark von Dadelszen QSM, provide an overview of the more significant elements of the proposals to replace the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. This overview is a much abbreviated summary of the main proposals approved by cabinet in late June (Reform of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908). The Exposure Draft of the Incorporated Societies Bill released in November 2015 (see Incorporated Societies), largely followed the recommendations in the 2013 Law Commission Report 129 (see Incorporated Societies Act 1908 Report). We recommend that new and existing societies be proactive in anticipating the reforms when adopting or revising constitutions. The most recent advice we have is that a Bill may be introduced in 2019, and enacted in 2020. Incorporated Societies Act Reform The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs hopes the reform Bill will be introduced to Parliament by the end of 2019. The following is a brief background to the reform: The Incorporated Societies Act 1908 has effectively remained unchanged for over a century (in 1920 it was amended to allow for branch societies, and on the introduction of decimal currency in 1967 a shilling fine was changed to 10 cents). In contrast, our companies’ legislation has been totally re-enacted six times since the Joint Stock Companies Act 1860 (1868, 1882, 1901, 1903, 1933 and 1993), all with regular amending Acts. The Law Commission’s 2013 Report 129, A New Act for Incorporated Societies, recommended a complete overhaul of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. A 2015 Exposure Draft of the Incorporated Societies Bill largely followed the recommendations in the 2013 Law Commission Report. In a 26 June...
