For the first time in New Zealand’s long and celebrated sporting history, nearly two hundred community sport entities were gazetted by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies on 19 August 2021 as no longer having incorporated (legal) status.
In total, 192 formerly incorporated bodies were dissolved by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies, either voluntarily, or for non-compliance with the requirements of the 1908 Act. Of the clubs contacted by the Association following the dissolution gazettal, nearly three-quarters (70%) were unaware that they had been dissolved, were still operating and were unaware of their compliance obligations under the current Act, (which is proposed to be replaced with more onerous compliance conditions if amendments currently before Parliament become law).
Over the past five years, around 1,000 incorporated sport entities have been dissolved.
"The Panel" discussed what's happening (and what should be done to alleviate current issues with regulatory compliance), noting that the "one size fits all" approach to incorporated societies legislation is not appropriate for most community sport organisations.
You can listen to "The Panel's" discussion, by clicking on the media player below.