Poto
WILLIAMS
Community sector and
Associate Housing Spokesperson
22 September 2015 MEDIA STATEMENT
Iwi tax status mess for charity sector
The Government’s mishandling of tax status for charitable community housing providers is jeopardising projects to house
some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable families, Labour’s Associate Housing and Community and Voluntary sector
spokesperson Poto Williams says.
“National has allowed this confusion to continue for almost two years. Their latest move, rules that mean Far North Iwi
He Korowai Trust will lose its charitable status if it allows families to pay off their homes, is simply nuts.
“If housing needy families isn’t charity, I don’t know what is.
“The Korowai Trust has bought nine old state houses and renovated them for the homeless in Kaitaia. It was about to
purchase another ten.
“Community Housing Aotearoa has already argued the Government has got it wrong in saying that home ownership programmes
are by definition non-charitable.
“This has huge implications for the homeless and disabled as the Government has promoted charitable trusts as the way to
take responsibility for the homeless and disabled.
“What we need is a complete review of the Charities Act,” says Poto Williams