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SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Radio New Zealand registers as charitable trust

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MPs have accused Radio New Zealand of “taking up the begging bowl” after it registered as a charity.

The state-owned broadcaster set up a charitable trust for the Concert Programme last month, registering with the Charities Commission under the name Radio New Zealand Charitable Trust. [The RNZ charity’s registration number is CC 46801].

The Green Party broadcasting spokesperson, Sue Kedgley, said the move “shows the dire state of public broadcasting’.

“At first I thought this was a joke. I am appalled to discover that it is a serious proposition and that the board of Radio New Zealand has been forced by the Government ‘s funding freeze … to set up a trust so that it can go out with a begging bowl to the public.”

She questioned if there was a long-term plan to enable RNZ to solicit donations for their programmes at the network.

“This suggests to me that it could be intended to have a wider pupose in the long term – namely to enable Radio New Zealand to solicit donations for its wider radio network.” Labour’s Clare Curren said it was “a ridiculous turn of events”.

“The minister has already stripped TVNZ of its charter forcing it to become a commercial entity. What’s next? Morning Report brought to us by Fonterra?

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said the issue was an operational matter for RNZ.

Source: The Dominion Post Friday, August 12, 2011. P. A2.

CEO of registered charity – Womens Refuge – criticises Judge’s decision

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Womens Refuge is a charity registered with the Charities Commission and receives considerable government financial assistance. Its Chief Executive, Heather Henare, has attacked a decision issued by a Judge in the Wellington District Court relating to a man charged with a “degrading” assault. She claims the decision “reeked of double standards”. 

A Te Papa manager has escaped conviction for a “degrading” assault on his pregnant former partner after claiming it would hamper his international travel for the museum.

Noel James Osborne, 47, is a collections manager of Maori artefacts. In a video on Te Papa’s website in which he presents the museum’s collection of taiaha, he says he is a carver.

Women’s Refuge chief executive Heather Henare said Osborne’s discharge without conviction reeked of double standards. “Effectively what this says is it is OK if you happen to be in a privileged position.”

Osborne, appearing in Wellington District Court yesterday, had previously pleaded guilty to common domestic assault.

Prosecutor Blair Piper described the attack as quite a degrading act. “It does have emotional ramifications beyond the physical. There’s simply no excuse for taking that action against a woman who was pregnant.”

But Osborne successfully argued that the effects of a conviction outweighed the gravity of the offending.

For more see:

 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5425894/Te-Papa-manager-avoids-assault-conviction

Registered charity challenges Court of Appeal’s child porn ruling

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Stop Demand Foundation, a registered charity (CC 30599) with the Charities Commission, has attacked a Court of Appeal decision granting name suppression to a 50-year old Manawatu man found guilty of possessing images of child rape. The charity’s founder, Denise Ritchie, who was interviewed on TV One’s Breakfast programme about the matter this morning, says the Court’s decision is a blow to child rape victims in New Zealand and to lobby groups like hers around the world fighting sexual violence against children.

The Manawatu man, who admitted 21 charges of possessing objectionable material, was sentenced to six months home detention and fined $5250 at the end of last year.

In a decision only made public yesterday, the Court of Appeal ruled that his name should be kept completely secret to protect his family members.

Ms Ritchie, who has read and studied the decision, pointed out on TV One’s Breakfast programme that the convicted man has not lived with or had close association with any of the “family members” whose reputations and privacy the Court of Appeal Judges have sought to protect. She argues that granting name suppression to the offender merely to protect the reputation of these people sets a dangerous precedent. [Read more…]

Government Denying Parents Right to Fair Trial – says Family First NZ

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Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission, says in its latest media release dated 15 July 2011 ……….

It is disturbing that the Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill to be passed by the government is denying parents the right to be tried by their peers on crucial family issues. 

 “By removing the right to juries for crimes punishable by less than three years in prison, the Government has not thought carefully about the implications that would have for parents who are prosecuted for minor acts of physical discipline or smacking,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“The anti-smacking debate has led to an ill-conceived, clumsy and confusing law and if this new regime is implemented, it would further exasperate good parents who find themselves before the courts because it takes away their choice to choose to be tried before their peers.”

“The new regime also suggests that an assault – including domestic assaults – is a more minor offence, yet a conviction of assault is actually a serious conviction. And it is vital that parents have the right retained to choose to be judged by their peers rather than by a judge.” [Read more…]

Buildwise Ltd and the obligations of Liquidators under Companies Act 1993

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In accordance with Section 255 of the Companies Act 1993, Liquidators have a statutory duty to report to all creditors and shareholders on the conduct of the liquidation of a company during the entire period for which they have been appointed Liquidators.  Six monthly reports are required to be promptly issued following a company being placed into liquidation and these reports are to be lodged with the Companies Office by the Liquidator and filed on its website www.companies.govt.nz . (It is notworthy that Court-appointed company liquidations are on the rise according to latest figures available from the Ministry of Economic Development).

Buildwise Limited (Co. No. 714048), directed by David Bruce Crow of Inglewood, Taranaki, was placed into voluntary liquidation with Insolvency specialists, Meltzer Mason Heath of Auckland, on 3 July 2009, owing $380,000 to unsecured creditors and an “unknown” amount to preferential creditors and secured creditors, according to the Liquidator’s Report dated 3 July 2009 (53 creditors were “known” at the time and listed in this report).

However, since this initial insolvency report was issued, only two further Liquidator’s Reports has been filed and made available to creditors on the Companies Office website. The first covering the period 3 July 2009 to 3 January 2010 states: “It is unlikely that there will be funds available for a distribution to unsecured creditors”.  No information is provided as to funds that might be available to preferential creditors and/or secured creditors. [Read more…]