New Zealand commune's funding trust loses charity status over child labor and other misconduct

The charity arm of a cloistered religious commune in New Zealand has been stripped of its tax-exempt status following an official investigation. Authorities determined that the trust’s funds facilitated serious misconduct within the group, specifically citing the use of child labor and other regulatory failures.

The revocation of charitable status marks a significant regulatory action against the organization. The investigation concluded that the financial structure of the trust enabled the group to engage in activities that violated the standards required for tax-exempt status in New Zealand.