Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai eruption and tsunami

The recent Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai eruption and tsunami has caused devastation to Tonga's public health systems, infrastructure, whānau and communities. You may consider donating to support Tonga's recovery.

The Council for International Development has listed registered charities(external link) and guidance for making your donations responsibly. 

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.

ADVICE FOR NZ CHARITIES

Can my charity or funder give money to Tongan charities?

Yes, your charity can as long as it will advance your charitable purposes, and it is consistent with your rules. You can check your charitable purposes and your rules document on the Charities Register(external link).

Will giving money to an Tongan charity have an impact on my charity’s status as a donee organisation with Inland Revenue?

To qualify as a donee organisation, your funds must be “wholly or mainly” applied to purposes in New Zealand. You can find more information on the Inland Revenue website on page 26 of their guide - Charitable and donee organisations(external link).

If your intended donation will significantly change how you spend your funds for the year, we recommend you talk to Inland Revenue first.

Our charity works or gives overseas and we want to find out more about our tax and other  obligations. 

You can watch the webinar “Know more about your tax obligations(external link)” from Inland Revenue or look at Inland Revenue’s page on charities(external link).  To find out more about protecting your charity when giving money overseas, find our previous webinar here(external link).

ADVICE FOR NZ DONORS

Can I get a tax credit for my donation?

If you want a tax credit please check to see if the charity you are donating to is on the Inland Revenue Donee list(external link).

The easiest way to submit a receipt for donations is through Inland Revenue’s MyIR service. You can submit copies of your receipts online.

I want to make a donation to a New Zealand charity that works in Tonga. How can I find out more about them?

If you are donating to a New Zealand registered charity that works internationally you can look them up on the New Zealand Charities Register(external link).

The Council for International Development has also information on giving to charities operating in Tonga.(external link)

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

There is no restriction in New Zealand to only give to registered charities. Many organisations are doing great work, but they may not be registered as a charity and if not, they will not be a qualifying donee organisation for a donee tax credit. 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.