Getting Started

The Community Toolkit is a practical legal resource designed to support organisations working in the community (not-for-profit) sector. It’s aimed at those who:

  • are planning to set up a new community group, or
  • are reviewing how their existing community group is structured and organised, or
  • are involved in managing an existing community group and want information about their group’s legal powers and obligations.

If you’re setting up a new group or reviewing your existing group’s structure and organisation, you may find you need help answer the following sorts of questions:

  • Should your group seek charitable status?
  • What kind of legal structure should your group have?
  • How can your governance structure can incorporate and reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • How will the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (the “2022 Act”) affect what your group needs to do?
  • What other laws will you need to know about?
Last updated 28 September 2023