Wagner Nicky: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Wagner Nicky: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:637;Page:7860] 
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 I rise to support the Statutes Amendment Bill with the exception of our concerns as indicated by Richard Worth over Part 36 which relates to pecuniary interests. Beyond that although this bill affects about 50 Acts—and my colleague Katrina Shanks will discuss some significant but smaller issues—the majority of the amendments are minor. They are mostly of a technical nature and are generally uncontroversial. 
However I draw the House’s attention to Part 7 which deals with the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. This is an important Act because it defines a charitable trust and any registered charitable trust needs to comply with the Act if it wishes to maintain its legal status. The amendment we are dealing with is minor and pertains to the technical details required within applications for incorporation. National supports it. 
I would like to talk further about the charitable trusts because they have been in the limelight this week. On Monday the leader of the National Party John Key had some good news for these organisations when he announced National’s new policy on tax deductions for charitable donations. That policy will benefit many charitable trusts. The Charitable Trusts Act allows an organisation to be registered as a charitable trust if its activity advances education advances religion relieves poverty or is otherwise beneficial to the community. That covers hundreds of worthwhile organisations. Charitable trusts include social service providers cultural groups organisations that support the arts and heritage and some international aid organisations. We know that Kiwis are generous people. Every day New Zealanders give their time and money to charitable trusts so that they can do good work in the community. Most Kiwis do not even seek recognition for their efforts but their generosity sends a message to charities that they are doing a good job that they are worthwhile and that they are supported. 
National supports Kiwis who donate to their communities and we support the good work these groups do. We want to promote a culture of generosity and giving in New Zealand and this new tax policy is a bold step towards achieving that goal. John Key said in his Burnside speech that he wanted to turbocharge the efforts of private and community groups in order to make a difference. This policy shows he means it. It is estimated that it will cost the Government about $60 million to $90 million each year in lost revenue but that figure will be more than matched by private donations to charitable trusts. When a National Government gives a dollar to charities the charities will benefit by $3. In effect it is a kind of matching policy—when people or businesses donate a National Government will chip in too. If this policy sees donations increase as much as National expects they will it will boost donations up to $300 million. That is nearly double the amount that goes into the sector at this stage. 
I have never come across a charitable organisation that was not looking for more funds. Most organisations do fantastic things on the smell of an oily rag so this change in policy will give these organisations a real boost. It is always great to see New Zealanders unselfishly donating to organisations because they believe in Kiwis helping Kiwis and in trying to create a better world. It does not matter what the cause is—whether it is helping kids supporting social work through the church funding the arts or enhancing the environment. Under a National Government financial support for any contribution made by Kiwis to a charitable trust will be doing good work and will be making a difference and that is the way it should be. 
So in conclusion National supports both the amendment in Part 7 to the Charitable Trusts Act and the Statutes Amendment Bill with the exception of Part 36 which relates to pecuniary interests.