A branded van, used by Te Pāti Māori candidate Takutai Kemp last year, has raised fresh questions amid concerns over allegations relating to Manurewa Marae.
The late-model, 12-seater van was used by Kemp in her bid for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat last year. The vehicle was wrapped in the candidate's branding and featured prominently in Kemp's marketing campaign as a mobile billboard.
The now-MP appeared with the van in a Q+A story just before the election.
Subsequent registration checks of the vehicle show that it is owned by the Manurewa Marae Trust Board. Kemp was the chief executive of the marae before the election.
That may be a problem for the marae as it is a registered charity. Charities are restricted in what political activities they can engage in.
Charities Services, which is part of Internal Affairs, told Q+A "registered charities must not support or oppose particular parties or candidates."
The department's general manager Charlotte Stanley said: "This includes making a donation to a political party or candidate’s election campaign, endorsing a party or candidate or allowing a party or candidate to use a charity’s resources."
This comes under section 13 of the Charities Act which outlines a charity’s requirement to have "charitable purposes".
Internal Affairs told Q+A that case law is key.
In the past, the department has gone to court, with groups seeking charity status, but that were deemed too politically aligned. For example, Family First was de-registered, and Greenpeace was challenged but fought and won a court case for its charity status.
Q+A sought responses from Manurewa Marae and the Tāmaki Makaurau MP.
The current chief executive of the marae, Hilda Peters, said she had been advised by legal counsel not to talk to the media.
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Kemp didn’t respond to several requests for comment.
Charities Services said, that while it is considering the information on Manurewa Marae, it is unable to say anything further because it's subject to their regulatory processes.
Q+A's Whena Owen visits the Māori electorate where Labour MP Peeni Henare is facing a challenge from Te Pāti Māori. (Source: Q and A)
Full statement from Charities Services
“Under the Charities Act, Registered charities must not support or oppose particular political parties or candidates.
"Charities can and do speak up in a variety of ways on issues that affect their communities, and may advocate for specific policies that are clearly connected to their charitable purpose.
"However, the law is clear that this cannot become support for a specific party or candidate.
"This includes making a donation to a political party or a candidate’s election campaign, endorsing a party or candidate, or allowing a party or candidate to use a charity’s resources."
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
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