Introduction Funding pressure is one of the most immediate challenges facing small NZ charities as grants are harder to secure, more competitive, and often tied to stronger expectations about outcomes and reporting. Community sector commentary in 2026 has highlighted the growing cost of resilience in the sector, while NZ grant Read more
Clarifying Roles Between Boards and Managers in Small NZ Charities Blurred lines between governance and management remain one of the most common and least openly addressed sources of tension and inefficiency in small NZ charities, particularly as organisations grow beyond purely volunteer-led models. In many small charities, the question of Read more
When “Good Practice” Becomes Too Much: Managing Compliance Overload in Small NZ Charities Running a small non-profit (“charity”) in New Zealand has never been simple—but in recent years, many organisations have found the burden quietly slipping from “doing good” to “keeping up.” What used to be a manageable set of Read more
Understanding the Role A charitable trust exists to advance one or more charitable purposes, not private benefit, and its trustees are those legally responsible for making that happen. If the trust is incorporated as a charitable trust board, the board becomes a legal entity, but the individuals on it still Read more
“Charities cut ties to Sarah Ferguson over reported Epstein email” – 1 News 23 September 2025 The ideal patron today is an active ambassador for a charity’s vision, a responsible steward of their own and the charity’s reputation, and an engaged partner — however public or private — in the Read more
Did you know that all registered charities must review their governance procedures (Rules, Constitution etc) every 3 years? Steven Moe of Parry Field Lawyers has published a blog on the subject. Entitled “Not ‘Just another Governance Burden for Charities”, the blog starts: “All registered charities must now review their governance Read more
We have learned of a new initiative from the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that may be of interest to Not-for-Profit organisations in South Canterbury. Supported by The Pub Charity Limited, the NFP Hub @ The Chamber – a dedicated workspace and meeting room, are offered completely free for local Not-for-Profit organisations to use. Whether they need a quiet desk for admin, a private Read more
NFP Resource has learned of an introductory governance book “Getting to grips with not-for-profit governance”, for the NZ market (it’s the only one). The book is endorsed by the Institute of Directors, NZ, Womens Refuge, smaller organisations and individuals, plus Steven Moe. The book has been written by Pierre Woolridge to help Read more
A British podcast tells the story of the legendary fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore and what follows. The podcast (42 minutes including promotions) contains lessons for those starting and running non-profit organisations and, indeed, lessons for donors: “When Britain entered its first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, many Read more
Leadership transitions are inevitable in any organisation, but for non-profits they can pose particular challenges. In New Zealand, where small non-profits and charities often depend on a few key individuals, the departure of a key person at governance or management level can disrupt operations, jeopardise funding relationships, and stall progress Read more
By NFP Resource Editor (acknowledging search assistance from Perplexity AI) As we enter 2025, charities and non-profit organisations in New Zealand are facing a number of significant challenges. These are little changed from problems we discussed in May 2023 but we thought that at the start of a new year Read more
In the dynamic landscape of New Zealand’s non-profit sector, good governance is not just a buzzword—it’s the cornerstone of organisational success and sustainability. Many well-meaning individuals step into trustee or officer roles in non-profits driven by a genuine desire to make a difference or to assist a friend or family Read more