Litigation, Societies and Charities Team
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Litigation, Societies and Charities Team
The following legal services are primarily provided by our Litigation, Societies and Charities Team:
Societies and Charitable Trusts
- Formation and amendment of constitutions
- Incorporation of societies and trusts
- Registration of charities with the Charities Commission
- Constitutional problems and disputes
- Meeting procedure
- Independent Chairmanship of meetings
Litigation
- Advice and representation in all fields including debt recovery, contractual disputes, societies and charities, negligence, defamation, insolvency, liquor licences, leases, nuisance, trespass, companies, partnerships, neighbours, and insurance
- Advising and representing applicants, submitters and Councils on resource consent applications, subdivisions and development control, plans, enforcement, hearings and appeals, and as Commissioners for hearings
- Alternative Dispute Resolution, mediation, arbitration, negotiation
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Constitution-Builder for Society Constitutions
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 […]
Essential Record-Keeping for Not-for-Profit Organisations
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 […]
Codes of Conduct in Not-for-Profit Governance
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 […]
Business Numbers – What they Mean for Not-for-Profits
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).