Helpful Links

Find out more about Incorporated Societies

Central Government Websites

New Zealand Government Portal - www.govt.nz

Use the government portal to find useful information about all government services, including information relating to incorporated societies.

Inland Revenue - www.ird.govt.nz

The Inland Revenue Department website contains information about the tax requirements for an incorporated society, including applying for tax exemptions if a society has a charitable purpose.

Department of Internal Affairs - www.dia.govt.nz

The Department of Internal Affairs regulates events that involve gambling and administers schemes that provide funding to community organisations. Visit their website for information about:

The Lottery Grants Scheme
The Community Grants Scheme
Holding gambling related events including raffles and housie

Charities Commission - www.charities.govt.nz

The Charities Commission is responsible for the registration of charitable entities under the Charities Act 2005. Its main responsibilities are to:

register and monitor charitable organisations in New Zealand
provide support and education to the charitable sector on good governance and management.

The registration of charities under the Charities Act will begin on 1 February 2007. While registration is voluntary, existing charities that wish to retain their tax exempt status on the grounds of charitable purpose will need to register with the Charities Commission before 1 July 2008.

Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector - www.ocvs.govt.nz

The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) was established in September 2003 to address overarching issues affecting the community and voluntary sector, and to raise the profile of the sector within government.

Department of Labour - www.dol.govt.nz

Trade unions must be registered as an incorporated society before they can register with the Department of Labour.

Te Puni Kokiri / Ministry of Maori Development - www.tpk.govt.nz

This website is a useful resource for societies involved with Maori.

Ministry of Women's Affairs - www.mwa.govt.nz

This website is a useful resource for societies involved with women and includes a directory of women's organisations in New Zealand.

Creative New Zealand - www.creativenz.govt.nz

Creative New Zealand is responsible for promoting, encouraging and supporting the arts in New Zealand.

Department of Conservation - www.doc.govt.nz

The Department of Conservation website is a useful website for people involved in the outdoors, either through tramping clubs, conservation or children.

Early Childhood Development - www.ecd.govt.nz

This includes information about early childhood and parenting organisations and includes suggestions about how to draft rules for these types of societies.

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Local Government Websites

New Zealand Local Government Online - www.localgovt.govt.nz

Societies may need to contact local councils when running events that involve selling alcohol, require a licence (for example to sell food) or need permission to use a public area (for example a street fair.) Local councils often have a number of useful resources and services to help societies in their area.

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Community Organisations

Citizens Advice Bureau - www.cab.org.nz

The Citizens Advice Bureau provide information and advice on a wide range of questions affecting New Zealanders.

CommunityNet Aotearoa - www.community.net.nz

This website contains a number of useful resources for people operating a society, especially those involved with community issues or interested in getting a presence on the Internet.

SPARC (formerly the Hillary Commission and the New Zealand Sports Commission) – www.sparc.org.nz

The SPARC website has information about sport and recreation activities.

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Find out more about Incorporated Societies

In our Information Library we have gathered together a range of resources to help you use our societies services. You will find answers to common questions, forms and fact sheets that step you through our online services.

Use our Contact Us service to look through these resources and we hope that your question will be answered there. If not, you will be given the opportunity to email us direct.

Alternatively, call us during business hours (8.30am-5pm weekdays) on Freephone 0508 SOCIETIES 0508 762 438 (Overseas callers call +64 3 962 2602).

Keep up to date with news and developments for the Companies Office and other business units and subscribe to the Business Update, our regular online newsletter. Sign up on line to receive your copy of the Business Update at http://news.business.govt.nz/bulletin/.

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Updated 27 November 2007

Print a copy of this document
	Helpful Links Central Government Websites Local Government Websites Community Organisations Find out more about Incorporated Societies Central Government Websites New Zealand Government Portal - www.govt.nz Use the government portal to find useful information about all government services, including information relating to incorporated societies. Inland Revenue - www.ird.govt.nz The Inland Revenue Department website contains information about the tax requirements for an incorporated society, including applying for tax exemptions if a society has a charitable purpose. Department of Internal Affairs - www.dia.govt.nz The Department of Internal Affairs regulates events that involve gambling and administers schemes that provide funding to community organisations. Visit their website for information about: The Lottery Grants Scheme The Community Grants Scheme Holding gambling related events including raffles and housie Charities Commission - www.charities.govt.nz The Charities Commission is responsible for the registration of charitable entities under the Charities Act 2005. Its main responsibilities are to: register and monitor charitable organisations in New Zealand provide support and education to the charitable sector on good governance and management. The registration of charities under the Charities Act will begin on 1 February 2007. While registration is voluntary, existing charities that wish to retain their tax exempt status on the grounds of charitable purpose will need to register with the Charities Commission before 1 July 2008. Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector - www.ocvs.govt.nz The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) was established in September 2003 to address overarching issues affecting the community and voluntary sector, and to raise the profile of the sector within government. Department of Labour - www.dol.govt.nz Trade unions must be registered as an incorporated society before they can register with the Department of Labour. Te Puni Kokiri / Ministry of Maori Development - www.tpk.govt.nz This website is a useful resource for societies involved with Maori. Ministry of Women's Affairs - www.mwa.govt.nz This website is a useful resource for societies involved with women and includes a directory of women's organisations in New Zealand. Creative New Zealand - www.creativenz.govt.nz Creative New Zealand is responsible for promoting, encouraging and supporting the arts in New Zealand. Department of Conservation - www.doc.govt.nz The Department of Conservation website is a useful website for people involved in the outdoors, either through tramping clubs, conservation or children. Early Childhood Development - www.ecd.govt.nz This includes information about early childhood and parenting organisations and includes suggestions about how to draft rules for these types of societies. [top of page] Local Government Websites New Zealand Local Government Online - www.localgovt.govt.nz Societies may need to contact local councils when running events that involve selling alcohol, require a licence (for example to sell food) or need permission to use a public area (for example a street fair.) Local councils often have a number of useful resources and services to help societies in their area. [top of page] Community Organisations Citizens Advice Bureau - www.cab.org.nz The Citizens Advice Bureau provide information and advice on a wide range of questions affecting New Zealanders. CommunityNet Aotearoa - www.community.net.nz This website contains a number of useful resources for people operating a society, especially those involved with community issues or interested in getting a presence on the Internet. SPARC (formerly the Hillary Commission and the New Zealand Sports Commission) – www.sparc.org.nz The SPARC website has information about sport and recreation activities. [top of page] Find out more about Incorporated Societies In our Information Library we have gathered together a range of resources to help you use our societies services. You will find answers to common questions, forms and fact sheets that step you through our online services. Use our Contact Us service to look through these resources and we hope that your question will be answered there. If not, you will be given the opportunity to email us direct. Alternatively, call us during business hours (8.30am-5pm weekdays) on Freephone 0508 SOCIETIES 0508 762 438 (Overseas callers call +64 3 962 2602). Keep up to date with news and developments for the Companies Office and other business units and subscribe to the Business Update, our regular online newsletter. Sign up on line to receive your copy of the Business Update at http://news.business.govt.nz/bulletin/. [top of page] Updated 27 November 2007 Contact Us \| MED Homepage \| govt.nz