Greenpeace delighted by charitable status decision
Wellington, November 16, 2012 - Greenpeace New Zealand has won its case to have its charitable status reconsidered.
The Court of Appeal today set aside an earlier ruling by the defunct Charities Commission declining Greenpeace
charitable status and said that decision should now be reconsidered by the Department of Internal Affairs.
"We are delighted that the Court of Appeal has recognised that promoting both peace and nuclear disarmament is for the
public benefit,” says Greenpeace Executive Director Bunny McDiarmid.
The Court has confirmed that the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction is also in the public benefit.
Greenpeace was denied charitable status in 2010 when it applied to the then Charities Commission. It ruled Greenpeace’s
promotion of disarmament and peace was a political purpose that was not "charitable" under the Charities Act 2005. That
decision was upheld by the High Court last year.
McDiarmid says today’s ruling provided more clarity on what it meant to be a charitable organisation promoting causes
such as peace and nuclear disarmament in the 21st Century.
“We will always remain non-party political promoting good environmental outcomes supported by nearly 60,000 Kiwis.”
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