Business Scoop - The High Court has ruled that Greenpeace of New Zealand Inc. is too involved in political causes to register as a charity. Justice Paul Heath turned down an appeal last Friday that Greenpeace could register with the Charities Commission after the body rejected its 2010 application. Justice Heath said Greenpeace’s political activities can’t be regarded as “merely ancillary” to its charitable purposes and that the commission was correct in disqualifying it for registration over the potentially illegal activities. Though the pursuit of peace could be “worthy,” that didn’t necessarily make it charitable, he said.May 16, 2011
Greenpeace too political to register as charity
Business Scoop - The High Court has ruled that Greenpeace of New Zealand Inc. is too involved in political causes to register as a charity. Justice Paul Heath turned down an appeal last Friday that Greenpeace could register with the Charities Commission after the body rejected its 2010 application. Justice Heath said Greenpeace’s political activities can’t be regarded as “merely ancillary” to its charitable purposes and that the commission was correct in disqualifying it for registration over the potentially illegal activities. Though the pursuit of peace could be “worthy,” that didn’t necessarily make it charitable, he said.