Craaaazy. The more I find out about the laws governing (or rather, not governing) charities in NZ, the more I feel sure that there is enormous potential for bogus "charities" to screw the system.

QFT — what is the road to Hell paved with again?

Jeremy E – I support Sea Shepherd. (I was a member of Project Jonah over 30 years ago.)

The person (not a he) didnt want my help on global warming -they wanted my personal & credit card details.

They almost certainly wanted you to join the green movement because it's a movement that doesn't take money from political parties or business because taking money from either institution is a…

Try two of these [
Then paste the url (http:// .....)
then do a pipe like | (the one above the )
then say what you want (eg disovery news born animal)
then do two of these ]
I always give this it's…

'faze' is kind of accurate for what they were doing -

Paticularly as aforesaid stranger (the first one) wanted personal details and suggested making a contribution, after I had said "Why?" in answer to their question

but yeh, free speech isn't always fun.

If he wanted your help on global warming its because we are now entering a desperation faze.

(You can also catch him at Discovery's "Being Animal" – a site I love, and thoroughly reccommend.)

(Still working on the embedding...)

So Sacha, can you elaborate a wee bit? (Assuming you can do so without opening Russell up to strongly-worded letters from libel lawyers). I'm not really up on the details of those relationships. What do we know that makes people think they're a…

o my, yes!

But that is one gigantic vermiferous entanglement, with a huge number of interested/involved parties...and, I deeply suspect, a complete lack of willingness to even start any kind of enquiry-

Because as the law currently stands, if your charity has been granted tax exempt status, you don't even have to file an income tax return unless IRD requests one (and they'll only do that if they're auditing you).

Craaaazy. The more I find out about the laws…

Good, now the Dancing with the Stars money is being challenged. I've long thought there must be some middle people there taking very large cuts from the txt votes.

Yup. The transparency issue there is really simple. Just tell the public the sum that will actually go to the charity.

Government will move with glacial speed on regulating this can of worms, but one would hope that if charitable trust status is being abused, the…

*blush*

If I run a charity and it qualifies for full tax-exempt status, and my charity makes a loss because my running costs are higher than the money I raised, does my charity get a tax refund to offset the loss?

I…

Helson blamed tall poppy syndrome for the controversy.

Which reminds me of the idea that "tall poppy syndrome" is claimed by people who think they should be immune to any criticism after achieving a certain amount of success.

There are plenty of other monetary avenues business can follow without slotting themselves into the finance stream of reputable charities.

I take your point about ethics being central – and fortunately most who deal with charities do behave, well, charitably.

However, some businesses specialise in areas more likely to be…

Maybe similar categories could be applied to individual organisations so they can be comparable?

Steve, unfortunately, in the real world businesses have to make money to survive and charities need to buy their services eg rent for properties, accounting and IT expertise, hotels for conferences. That is part of the professionalisation of charities – they need staff…

In the HoS story, Howlett himself has pled ignorance of its financial affairs, explaining that he's been in the northern hemisphere — which makes the fact…

in fact it's a huge story given that his own appointed advisor is telling him to wake up fast.

The man himself.

All I can say is – well done New World – and the collectors!

I know New World in Freemans Bay is a franchise and suspect they all are, but a code of ethics may be established for all of them. Outside Foodtown where we live, a sign is displayed announcing…

While I deplore his use of an archaic title, I really appreciate the PM's scientific advisor taking a firm & scientific stance on global warming-

Absolutely agree , in fact it's a huge story given that his own appointed advisor is telling him to wake up fast.I thought he came in…

but if anyone accosts me and asks whether I care or not (it's happened 3 times) I simply say "None of your business-"

It's everyones business..its global warming. It's a movement towards "commonsense". It's not a charity its an awakening. How can you get upset about peolpe trying to alert…

on a slightly…

Mostly it is asking you a question that if you say no to you feel bad:
"Do you care about global warming?"

If you say no to that one you are a fantasist. Global warming isn't a
charity.

No rules about how they choose to spend the money, no restrictions on how much a fundraising agency can charge, no audits of their financial statements required,…

mendicant xaphoonists

I just wanna throw my alms around you...

yrs
A. Blowhard
Club Beggary

mendicant xaphoonists

You stumped Google again, you sly fox!

I am glad to hear that mendicant xaphoonists are remunerated.

I give money to a guy thats often outside the New world supermarket in Newtown. He plays a saxophone he's made out of bits of bamboo.

Steven – Was it the saxophone that got you or the fact it was made from bamboo ?
Hell I'd give money to anyone…

I've been in contact with Rick, and he won't be able to file his post responding to your questions until next week.

I'm okay with this: he's a volunteer independent chairman and he's been fronting the issue all over the place. He has urgent legal work to do.…

The only issue is it's not always clear-cut in terms of disbursements to the…

I didn't mean to imply any fraud in earlier post.

The Charities register listing for the DHFC charity has the website as doughowlett.com. This along with doughowlett.co.nz do exist but just have a text message displayed. This means that someone has to be paying the hosting charges even though…

Either the expense is ... or my computer ain't working properly...

Hang on a mo'. I think that's a bit presumptuous, unless of course you have authority? Charities are often business' acting on behalf of a charity. That is not to say the organisation is the needy lot. Whilst one…

This is the default page for doughowlett.com

So my question for Mr Shera -…

I just stood on my corner with my bucket silently

Nice work. I always walk past collectors, and if I don't get accosted, I double back, and donate. Especially as these days it seems that the stickers really say 'Do not harass this person, we've already got their money'.

Moreu cartoonage

Ouch.

Where's the ogg link?

Tim, good point. I support Open Source alternatives in principle.

Because of the way PAS handles links when composing posts, it takes some effort even to offer more than one link option for RNZ's stories. I think you'll find I am one of the few who…

And, after September 11 2001, the Red Cross was forced to do an about face and promise that all the donations that resulted from the attacks would go victims.

Russell on RNZ this morning –
streaming (9 mins) or MP3 (7.5 MB).

Where's the ogg link? Richard Hulse would thank you for using it:

I do hope that people use the Ogg files because apart from the freedom aspect, the quality is better than MP3 for the same data…

Julie's refusal to tell Laws their wages ignited all this. And saying "none of your business" when you're a charity maybe wasn't the smartest move.

Certainly not — though I would like someone to ask the triple-dipping Mayor of Wanganui how much Radio Live and the SST pay to distract…

When you're tugging on peoples emotions and wallets, I tend to think complete clarity and full transparency is rather important.

EXACTLY

The reason there is so much heat to this discussion is obvious. People want to know what percentage of monies raised the organisers are paying themselves. It's as simple as that. Everything else stems from this one…

And yes, it might well be cheaper for me to buy the raincoats myself and pop down to the school and hand them out, but seriously, how many people are going to do that? Surely one organisation to centralise it is better.

I absolutely disagree. Compare it to a food…

... really doesn't work for me.

Me neither.

"The single most important factor – that a simplistic focus on financial accounts misses – is that KidsCan receives massive in-kind and non-cash support which it cannot account for under current charities and accounting standards law in New Zealand," Mr Shera said.

…

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:48:13 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125951#post125951 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125951#post125951 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:34:09 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125950#post125950 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125950#post125950 The financial report of Invitation Only Events states expenses of $62,000 paid to the Doug Howlett Foundation Charitable Trust in 2008.

There is no mention of that income in the financial report of the DHFCT for the same year. Where'd it go?

Perhaps an officer of one or both of…

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:19:14 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125948#post125948 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125948#post125948 Russell: are we now contemplating undeclared related party transactions in an under-regulated sector?

Sound familiar anyone?

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:43:36 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125946#post125946 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125946#post125946 Here is my question:

Can a person who gives money to KidsCan expect it to go further than it would if the person just spent that money buying some raincoats and gave them to the local decile 1 school for distribution?

(disclaimer: I don't currently live in NZ and I…

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:02:19 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125945#post125945 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125945#post125945 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:27:26 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125944#post125944 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125944#post125944 Recognition bro.

Money ain't nothing in particular.

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:53:52 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125942#post125942 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125942#post125942 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:44:56 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125940#post125940 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125940#post125940 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:34:28 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125939#post125939 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125939#post125939 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:25:13 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125938#post125938 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125938#post125938 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:24:23 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125936#post125936 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125936#post125936 What did I start? ;-)

But this, from Stuff ...

KidsCan StandTall Charitable Trust chairman Rick Shera said in a statement that some of the recent commentary relates to historic KidsCan accounts that were filled with the Charities Commission as is required.

While at first sight the conclusions that some…

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:09:10 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125935#post125935 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125935#post125935 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:01:54 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125934#post125934 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125934#post125934 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:40:14 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125933#post125933 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125933#post125933 @Sacha. Long time reader, get your own show :)

Smug for no good reason

Oooooooh...it does get in.

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:02:22 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125932#post125932 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125932#post125932 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:58:28 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125931#post125931 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125931#post125931 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:53:49 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125930#post125930 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125930#post125930

It seemed to me that they were taking criedit for raising the issues, in a rather self-satisfied fashion.

That fashion may just be part of the show and of TVNZ in general. Smug for no good reason is a phrase that easily unites Paul Henry and Wendy Petrie, for instance.…

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:41:26 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125929#post125929 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-where-your-money-goes/?p=125929#post125929

all my time has been taken up today and I have not had a chance to come back here

That was my suspicion as soon as I saw CloseUp had flogged the story – (streaming, 11 mins).

Rick, the way you described the in-kind contributions the last of the several…

That does sound a little less than committed to a prompt and comprehensive response you promised yesterday.

lol

"still my intention to try to answer on PA the main questions that have been raised here in due course."

That does sound a little less than committed to a prompt and comprehensive response you promised yesterday.

KidsCan does good stuff, the dial simply needs to be turned…

But the police school safety advisors are telling us not to to put the children in dark coloured raincoats, as drivers (especially when raining) find it harder to see little people in dark colours

True.

I don't think the kids would really care what colour they were... although older boys…

Well – best laid plans and all that!

But, unfortunately, as happened to Russell, the way in which this story was broken, with traditional media picking it up from PA before KidsCan even had a chance to comment properly, has meant that all my time has been taken…

"Whether the charity relates to our competitors, or ourselves, makes no difference;"

A touch of sourgrapes from TV One not getting the Telethon?

as Sacha did on another discussion

Bugger – wrong thread, hurrying. Duplicated here:

Russell on RNZ this morning –
streaming (9 mins) or MP3 (7.5 MB).

But the police school safety advisors are telling us not to to put the children in dark coloured raincoats,…

Do you have any plans to work with corporate partners that work from a more sustainable basis, for example, providing fresh food rather than processed food, shoes that are manufactured in NZ etc. etc.?

I have to agree. I know some food is better than no food but some of…

Can you talk me through the relatoinship between Kids Can Trust and Invitation Only Events limited and how this relationship works ?

Thanks

Volunteer charities must rank right up there with the immigration service as ethical jungle and emotional quagmire.

After maybe 40 or 50 years of involvement in community issues as a reporter, community board member, political party worker,…

www.angoa.org.nz

A recent report on the govt-community sector relationship by ANGOA (the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa) is called Good Intentions, and is available on their site

www.ocvs.govt.nz (Office of the Community and…

And for the Mac-heads (for whom this link doesn't work) – you will need to download the VLC Media Player which is a jolly good bit of software for the Mac.

Actually, the Flip4Mac components for QuickTime are a better solution. WMA streams will just play as a QuickTime movie…

Then go here Nine to Noon and do the following (from the RNZ website):

How do I set up…

So please, carry on talking.

However the topic and conversation is hugely relevant for us and we thought it wouldn't hurt to add our view on things (and maybe smoke out a millionaire or two).

Go for it Michael. Up front seems to work over here.I think one message is…

Won't somebody please think of the links...

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/2009/08/12/kidscan_wheres_the_money_going

Disclaimer: Richard Aston is my CEO so we're a tag team of link failures.

However the topic and conversation is hugely relevant for us and we thought it wouldn't hurt to add…

Perhaps the government could arrange for some support for the already existing, completely free, charitable resource website which does that, DonateNZ, link here, which allows people to find, support and donate to community organisations.

Anyway to attract donations we need to get our name, message and story out there and…

www.bigbuddy.org.nz

www.thepond.co.nz

In the present climate hopefully such corporate BS won't be allowed to pass unchallenged.

Funniest thing I've read today.

I like that "cake stall to buy bombers" concept myself..

Phew, for a minute there I wondered if i was the only one who remembered that line.

But it's been done.

"Do you care about children?"

Whose?

Mostly it is asking you a question that if you say no to you feel bad:

"Do you care about global warming?"

A dude tried that with me on Courtenay Place.

Dude: "Do you care about children?"
Robyn: "No."

I prefer "NGOs" or "non-profit organisations" or suchlike that have a broader feel to them, and less of the begging, forelock tugging, volunteerism about them.

I'm waiting for the day world leaders decide to disarm completely and turn all their armies into peace corps which are sent around the world…

Does the charity identify need or is it just handing out branded goods?

For those asking this question in this thread, I share your concern. I can't help but wonder who is going to benefit more out of this telethon: Adidas & KidsCan, or the kids?

What's leftover from the exorbitant…

I prefer "NGOs" or "non-profit organisations" or suchlike that have a broader feel to them, and less of the…

On one hand I think the proof of need is a much more important question than the amount that is being spent on admin.

I am also conscious though that there are organisations out there…

If this was a business and not a charity pulling heart strings, I'd have no problem with a 20% profit.
Since its not your comparison seems somewhat pointless.

Fact is Kyle that these companies that "Maximise" your charities income are business'. They use every trick in the book to guilt you…

Oh Brickley. You are *so* That Guy.

Oh, Danielle, if only you really meant that.

I think its really commendable that you've agreed to do what you're donig and I look forward to reading your post.

My question — and I apologise if someone has already asked this — is what arrangement exists between the charity, Adidas and the schools, if any? Is there…

don't let me put you off :)

Don't worry — the city fathers don't need to put out a hit on you quite yet. Despite incubating the virus that is Starbucks, Seattle is the home of one of my favourite indie comix publishers (Fantagraphics) and they have a store, a…

Gosh Russell, you sound so reasonable. Why can't you be black or white like everyone else!

Heh. It's odd having to do something like that when it's just something I've written in my blog, rather a fully-fledged story (and when I have other people waiting on my paying work!).

But…

In his Public Address blog yesterday, media commentator Russell Brown questioned why $1.5 million of the $1.95m raised by KidsCan organisations in the year to December 2008 went in operating costs, leaving 19 cents in the dollar…

There is definitely diverse street life here – not sure why, lots of people yelling at themselves, lots of panhandling, plenty of eccentrics and old hippies…

There are some ex Scientology people who protest at an intersection down the road – they cover their faces with masks – all a bit weird, makes me think of the Aum Shinrinkyo types you'd see scuttling around in Tokyo. Apparently they are scared of being recognised.

Sad and fucked…

as others have said, thanks for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions directly.

I'm interested in what the long term aims are for KidsCan are. What, if any, strategies, do you have in place for moving from a position where you are simply providing a very…

Yes, but do they need this clothing? Would they be otherwise coatless and discalced? Does the charity identify need or is it just handing out branded goods?

I've always assumed there's a need because the teachers/parents seem so thrilled to have the goods.

But it's a good question – is…

Please don't feel under assault with these questions. Clear answers will aid your cause. Mine are:

What others, aside from celebrities who have public relations to organise them, do you have visiting schools?

Which is the more costly exercise for KidsCan?:
Organising the provision of sponsors' products to children…

There are some ex Scientology people who protest at an intersection down the road – they cover their faces with masks – all a bit weird, makes me think of the Aum Shinrinkyo types you'd…

I don't know if this works in the long run as people are surely jaded?

Well, it certainly seems rather rather *cough* counter-productive to be setting up a mental connection between your organisation and intense irritation. Along as the same lines as my somewhat irrationally strong dislike of Mormons and…

Interestingly, in Ireland the Air Corps does air ambulance work, as well as SAR and police support.

Now that would be a useful thing to do with our own air force and their shiny new helicopters.

The larger revenue number (the $1.95m) comes from a different statement: the one for the KidsCan Charitable Trust Group, which consolidates KidsCan's various activities, including the Big Night In.

They try everything, yesterday it was stepping in front of me…

If I'm reading it correctly, 25% went to the specific KidsCan programmes in 2006, 24% in 2007, and 19% in 2008?

Has anybody identified any need for the raincoats and shoes that KidsCan provides? It looks to me like another opportunity for Adidas (which supplies the branded coats) to obtain yet more free publicity.

Yes, and the No.1 Shoe Warehouse seems to supply the shoes, for its own promotional return. It…

How much did Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsorship cost the sponsors, and what did those in each category receive in return for said sponsorship?

Thanks for your time.

Thanks for doing this.

I would like to know :

1 – Would it be possible to see the key personnel annual wages?

2 – Does Adidas pay the charity any money to have thousands of walking billboards at schools throughout NZ?

3 – To maintain the huge…

Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions.

I would like to know:

1 – How much does each raincoat cost to buy from Adidas?

2 – Is a reduction given in the price for the raincoats and is this counted as a donation from Adidas?

3 -…

Or when the supermarket checkout person asks if you'd like to donate a dollar for whatever good cause it is. Easy.

Wearing my retail worker hat: these schemes are great if and only if they're run for limited periods. I can safely assert that by the third week of "would…

I think one of the major problems with this sort of charity collection is that people (especially people my age or younger) genuinely *don't* have cash on them very often these days. I never, ever do

I never carry cash on me either, and I'm not 'younger'. Eftpos, bus ticket,…

What was the cost to build the Big Night In website

Less than the Mission On site. :)

I take it cre8d wasn't approached, then, Rachel?

The question to ask a charity is what is their fundraising ratio? (especially long established charities -it's harder for new charities.)

Few questions, any level of detail appreciated if possible:

1) How much of the (let's agree, high) overhead described above…

Mahal – I encountered that problem (a rude ex-serviceperson) in CHCH last year – and yes, I already had my poppy on too: they couldnt blame yooof (I'.m deservedly greyhaired) but maybe they didnt like my response to their 'for god, queen, and country' spiel-

I think one of the…

Here's some questions I have:

Who initiated this year's Telethon?* KidsCan or TV3?

"87% of costs for running Telethon were covered thru corporate sponsorship cash & in-kind. A small amount of $ will be used 4 running costs." – @TelethonNZ

How much of the $1944225 will go to KidsCan?…

Of course as Dannielle says poppies don't glorify war but the horror of it

For me it's all just a…

yes I know things have changed but I can't wear one

I once had an argument with a friend about wearing poppies because she was very Right On (TM) and believed they were all about 'glorifying war'.

When I buy a poppy I think about death, waste, mud, tragedy, stupidity…

The first thing to mention is that in NZ only greenpeace and amnesty employ their own fundraisers – everyone else (save the children, red cross) is run by companies which normally take the first year or so of donations.

Absolutely not true Jeremy! I worked for the RNZFB and they…

Anzac collections I dont even…

Ask away, because I have a lot to do tomorrow, then I'm out of town — so I'd like to get it happening asap.

they're playing on people's instincts not to snarl "get the fuck out of my face" and barging on.

I work in Auckland's CBD, and I am afraid I have been guilty of the above a few times. Usually the days I've been hounded by some wonk with a clipboard four…

However, I now find myself with the ideal opportunity to respond to a group that will listen to facts about KidsCan Charitable Trust, since I am the chairman of that charity.

I…

Re Fire Service. I meant that a similar service should/could be set up for Helicopter Rescues rather than under the umbrella of the NZFS. Acronym selection NFG.