VNZ is the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to furthering the benefits of volunteering and actively engage with government and policy makers.  VNZ undertakes and mantains regular dialogue with the government offices, Cabinet Ministers and other officials on the issues related to volunteering.

In our recent dialogue with the Immigration Service, we facilitated the change to the Immigration NZ website to make it clear that holders of visitor permits can volunteer while in New Zealand. Previously the statement on the site said they could not, even though the policy of the Immigration Service was that they could.

Further, VNZ with the support from the Minister of Revenue Peter Dunne promoted the recently passed legislation about reimbursement payments to volunteers. The new law makes it clear that reimbursement of volunteers' expenses is not taxable income. Moreover, the definition of who is a volunteer was changed by the Select Committee and now anybody who volunteers within New Zealand, including visitors, may receive tax exempt refunds of their expenses.

As part of the representation process VNZ makes submissions on various policy issues some of which are listed below.  Please click on the link to download the submission:

• Immigration Act Review (pdf document, 153KB)
• Tax & Charitable giving (pdf document, 221KB)
• Quality Flexible Work (pdf document, 141KB)
• Immigration Bill (October, 2007) (pdf document, 135KB)
• Payroll Giving (pdf document, 231KB)
• IPRC Bill (pdf document, 153KB)
• Taxation Bill (2008) (pdf document, 153KB)
• MED Review of Financial Reporting (pdf document, 305KB)
• Accounting Standards Review (pdf document, 306KB)