Cyclone Gabrielle

Updated 24 February 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle brings severe weather conditions to many regions of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Government has declared a national state of emergency(external link).

A crisis can be a difficult time to be on a committee or board of a charity. You can find a few  tips in Governance in a crisis(external link) adapted from JB Were’s guidance.

If your charity is affected by the cyclone or flooding and you need an extension or support with filing your annual return, please get in touch with us at info@charities.govt.nz.

Keep up to date with MetService weather forecasts(external link). To find information on preparing and getting ready for storms(external link) visit the Get Ready website.

Information on making a household emergency plan(external link) is on the Ministry of Pacific Peoples website.

Resources and guidance for businesses can be found on the Business.govt.nz(external link) website.

If you have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, support and assistance may be available from Work and Income(external link).

You can find up to date information on severe weather and flooding(external link) on the Civil Defence website.

To get advice on donating to a charity visit our donations page(external link) to find answers to common questions about donations and how to donate safely. For those that may consider donating to charities to support those impacted there are a range of resources that can guide you below.

Making a donation to a charity

We have previously explained what you should do to ensure your donation has an impact(external link). We provide a selection of answers to questions you may have when donating to charities.

The group I want to donate to is not a registered charity, is it ok to still donate to them?

Many organisations are doing great work, but they may not be registered as a charity and if not, they may not be a qualifying donee organisation for a donee tax credit (you can search Inland Revenue’s website for all groups qualified as donee organisations(external link)). You won’t be able to find them on our Register, but as most will have a website you can find more about their work there. They also may be incorporated as a society(external link) or trust board(external link) with the Companies Office where you can find more information.

What can I do if someone comes to my home and asks for a donation and I think they may be fraudulent?

There are some dishonest people who take advantage of New Zealanders’ generosity by fraudulently seeking donations. If someone comes to your home who claims to be collecting donations on behalf of a charity, or they are collecting on the street, ask to see appropriate identification. If they are a registered New Zealand charity they will have a charity number starting with CC. Falsely claiming to be a registered charity under the Charities Act is an offence. If you suspect fraud, you can contact the police or report the incident to compliance@dia.govt.nz

Where can I find out more about avoiding scams?

Netsafe(external link) and CERT NZ(external link) are the experts on staying safe online in New Zealand. CERT NZ has developed a list of tips to help you avoid online scams and attacks.