New Zealand: Family First to Lose Charity Status Over Controversial Positions?

The New Zealand Herald reports that Family First NZ, which identifies itself as a pro-framily organization, has announced that it received a notice that the New Zealand Charities Commission plans to deregister the organization as a charity because it supports a view of the family that was not in the public interest.  Among its many positions, Family First opposes same-sex marriage and a law that apparently criminalizes any form of corporal punishment for children.  A later article indicates that the deregistration is based at least on part on the assertion that Family First’s main purpose is political and therefore not charitable under New Zealand law.  The final resolution of the situation will be decided by the courts, as Family First has already filed a High Court appeal.

LHM