SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Marriage benefits ignored: Waning rates a warning bell – Challenge Weekly

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Challenge Weekly, – New Zealand’s Christian Newspaper, reported on 21 May 2012:

“Family-friendly organisations are concerned that the benefits of marriage are being ignored, after the latest statistics revealed marriage rates were declining in New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand has revealed that there were 20,231 marriages registered in 2011, the lowest number since 2001…

“Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission, ‘wants the Government to develop policies to strengthen and support marriages, remove marriage tax penalties, and introduce tax incentives for marriage’.”

[Such law changes are supported and promoted by a number of lobby groups within the charity sector].

“Bob McCoskrie national director of Family First NZ, said the latest statistics were a warning bell that we ignored the benefits of marriage at our peril as a society.”

For full story See: www.challengeweekly.co.nz

Registered charities & “political advocacy” – protests to highlight porn & sexual violence link

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“Demonstrators have marched down Queen Street [Auckland] in front of the controversial Boobs on Bikes parade in an effort to raise awareness of the links between pornography and violence against women and children,” reported The NZ Herald on 20 August 2008.

“Around 60 protesters carried a banner saying “Pornography fuels sexual violence against women and children” as well as signs bearing slogans such as “porn fuels rape“….”

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (SPCS) which played no part in the protest, only learnt after the event, via the media, that two charities registered with the Charities Commission – The Auckland Women’s Centre Inc. and Stop Demand Foundation – had organised the demonstration against the Boobs on Bikes event. Both charities had applied for and received a permit from the Auckland City Council for their protest march. Both had been registered as charities with the approval of Mr Trevor Garrett and the Charities Commission Registration Team, on 30 June 2008, two months prior to taking to the streets to target the porn promotion parade and its organiser. A third charity Family First New Zealand (Reg. No. CC10094), registered as a charity on 21 March 2007, issued media releases attacking the porn promotion activities of the Boobs on Bikes Parade promoter. [Read more…]

Child Poverty Action Group Inc and its political advocacy

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The Child Poverty Action Group Inc. (CPAG) was registered as a charity with the Charities Commission  on 5 June 2008 (Reg. No. CC25387). According to Wikipedia on-line, it “is a New Zealand political advocacy group for the abolition of poverty and social exclusion…. CPAG describes itself as ‘an independent charity working to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand through research, advocacy and education’. CPAG speaks out on behalf of tens of thousands of New Zealand’s poorest children…”

Records from the Charities Commission website show that CPAG had a gross income of $132,361 for the financial year ended 31 March 2011, and of that, $62,638 was spent on wages for one full-time employee and two other part-timers: involved in administration and research (47% of total income). In addition $1,033 of CPAG income was spent specifically on office administration and $486 to cover employees’ ACC Levies. 58 hours per week (average) in total of paid work, was funded by CPAG. In 2010/11 it received $105,000 in non-government grants and sponsorship, $16,757 in donations, and $2,660 in membership fees. (se www.charities.govt.nz).

CPAG – Aotearoa New Zealand has a clear focus on political advocacy, involving the promotion of “better policies [laws] for children and young persons – illustrated by the following activities…. [Read more…]

Is The Definition Of Charitable Purpose Relevant To NZ? – Scoop News

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Press Release: Hayes Knight NZ  Scoop News 26 April 2012

Is The Definition Of Charitable Purpose Relevant To New Zealand Society In 2012?

The Charities Commission hosted a forum to specifically explore the appropriateness of the existing definition of “charitable purpose” in New Zealand. This two day event was held in Wellington on 17 and 18 April 2012. Those selected to attend represented a cross section of people involved in the sector; all leaders in their respective areas.

Hayes Knight Audit Director Craig Fisher was invited to the forum as a panel presenter.

Below is an extract from the paper he presented.

For Full Paper see: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1204/S00806/is-the-definition-of-charitable-purpose-relevant-to-nz.htm

The issue of advocacy

This has been the source of much contentious, and sometimes what appears to be sensational and erroneous, media regarding decisions of the Charities Commission arising from the legal cases taken.

Political advocacy as a primary purpose is not currently considered charitable. This is especially the case when it comes to political parties which are not and should not be considered charitable. This is sound logic. [Read more…]

Family First NZ calls for law change on wearing of lifejackets

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In a Media Release dated 22 May 2012, Family First NZ  has called for the law to be changed to make the wearing – not just the carrying – of lifejackets compulsory on non-commercial smaller pleasure boats, canoes and dinghies: ….

Make Wearing of Life Jackets Compulsory

“Currently the law only requires the carrying of lifejackets and the wearing of them in situations of ‘heightened risk’. By making them compulsory to wear at all times, coastguard authorities, police and members of the public will be able to be ensure that families are not put at risk by venturing on to the water without this requirement,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. [Read more…]