Oxfam Aotearoa

• Official Name & Status: Oxfam Aotearoa (formerly Oxfam New Zealand) – Registered charitable trust (NZ Charities Registration CC24641), legally autonomous member of the Oxfam International confederation. NZBN – 9429042616870.

• Founded: Established 1 March 1991 by a group of New Zealanders as Oxfam New Zealand, initially to raise funds for famine relief in the Horn of Africa. Incorporated on 6 July 1998 under the Charitable Trusts Act (as “Oxfam New Zealand / Oxfam Aotearoa”).

• Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand (Charity’s street address: Level 1, 14 West Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland). Postal address: PO Box 68357, Auckland. Operates nationwide in NZ and in Pacific/Asian countries (e.g. Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, etc.).

• Leadership: Executive Director – Jason Myers (appointed June 2023). Board Chair – Ngila Bevan (human rights lawyer, appointed 2023). Past Executive Directors include Barry Coates (2003–2014) and Rachael Le Mesurier (2014–2021). Coates later served as a Green Party MP in 2016–17. Le Mesurier, a former NZ AIDS Foundation head, was awarded CNZM and went on to a role at the NZ Super Fund in 2022.

• Board of Trustees: Governed by a volunteer Board. Current trustees (2023) include Sarah Rennie (Deputy Chair, ex-CEO in private sector), Rohini Ram (Treasurer, EY partner and tax expert), Dr. Philippa Smales (development sector specialist), Eleanor Parkes (human rights and youth advocate), and Toleafoa Alfred Schuster (Pacific development consultant). Former trustees have included public policy academic Prof. Jonathan Boston (Deputy Chair until 2022), disability advocate Minnie Baragwanath, and engineer Garry Macdonald (co-Chair until 2021).

• Staff & Volunteers: Employs a professional staff (dozens of full-time staff – Data Not Found for exact number) and engages numerous volunteers, especially for fundraising events. Oxfam’s annual Oxfam Trailwalker endurance event, introduced in NZ in 2006, mobilises hundreds of volunteers and participants each year to raise funds.

• Financial Snapshot: Annual income in recent years ranges roughly NZ$7–10 million. (For year ending Mar 2024: NZ$7.48m income; Mar 2021: NZ$10.82m during a major emergency appeal year). Funding is derived from public donations, philanthropic grants, and institutional partners. The New Zealand Government (MFAT) is a significant funder via aid program contracts (e.g. a NZ$9.7m co-investment from MFAT for a 2021–26 climate resilience project). Oxfam also receives support through the global Oxfam International network for large-scale humanitarian responses. Donations are tax-deductible in NZ.

• Affiliations: Oxfam Aotearoa is one of 21 affiliates in the Oxfam International confederation (the global secretariat in Oxford coordinates strategy and standards). It is a member of the Council for International Development (CID), the umbrella body for NZ development NGOs. It has a formal partnership with Transparency International NZ as an “affiliate organisation” in anti-corruption initiatives. Oxfam Aotearoa also collaborates with other NGOs in coalitions (e.g. climate action networks, humanitarian forums) and adheres to sector codes of conduct (CID Code of Conduct, etc.).

• Government & Political Ties: Oxfam frequently interfaces with government in both cooperative and advisory roles. It has a negotiated partnership with the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working together on Pacific development projects (e.g. the 2021 Kōtui programme on climate adaptation). Several Oxfam figures have moved into or out of government roles: former Executive Director Barry Coates entered Parliament as a Green List MP (2016–2017), and ex-ED Rachael Le Mesurier consulted for MFAT and later joined a Crown entity. Board Chair Ngila Bevan serves as an independent advisor to government bodies on human rights. These links provide Oxfam with policy expertise and connections, but also draw scrutiny regarding its political engagements.

• Controversies: Sexual Misconduct Scandal (2018) – Oxfam International was rocked by revelations of sexual exploitation by Oxfam GB staff in Haiti (2011). Although the abuses occurred overseas, the scandal hurt Oxfam’s reputation globally and in NZ. Oxfam Aotearoa’s leadership publicly expressed “shock and sadness” and reinforced safeguarding measures in response. NZ donors and the government sought assurances of accountability (no NZ-specific misconduct was reported). Advocacy & Charity Law – Oxfam Aotearoa’s outspoken advocacy on issues like inequality and tax policy has led to criticism from some quarters. For example, the NZ Taxpayers’ Union accused Oxfam of straying into partisan politics by “campaigning for wealth taxes” and questioned whether such lobbying is compatible with its charitable status. To date, Oxfam remains a registered charity in good standing, but this debate highlights tension between its political advocacy and regulatory limits on charities. (No significant legal or financial improprieties by Oxfam Aotearoa have been documented in the past decade aside from the above issues – Data Not Found for any further major controversies.)

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Sources:

1. Oxfam Aotearoa Charities Register Entry (CC24641) – Charities Services, NZ, https://www.register.charities.govt.nz/Charity/CC24641 (Name, status, address, areas of operation)

2. “Our History – Oxfam Aotearoa” – Oxfam Aotearoa (official site), https://www.oxfam.org.nz/what-we-do/about/our-history/ (Timeline of key events: 1991 founding, 1998 incorporation, 2005 Arms Treaty lobbying, 2008+ climate campaigns, 2013+ inequality reports, 2021 name change)

3. Scoop News: “Rachael Le Mesurier appointed new Oxfam Executive Director” – Oxfam NZ press release via Scoop, 24 Feb 2014 (Leadership change: Le Mesurier appointed, background in AIDS Foundation and MFAT consulting; Coates’ 10-year tenure noted)

4. Evening Report: “Barry Coates: PACER Plus – how the Pacific Way is being undermined” – EveningReport.nz, 21 Apr 2017 (Author bio: Barry Coates is a Green MP and former Oxfam NZ Director 2003–14, highlighting his dual role)

5. RNZ News: “Graeme Hart’s $3.4b gain proves need for taxing wealth – Oxfam” – Radio NZ, 25 Jan 2021 (Oxfam’s Advocacy & Communications Director calls for wealth tax in NZ, citing Hart’s pandemic wealth gain as evidence; notes PM ruled out CGT but debate continues)

6. Taxpayers’ Union: “Op-ed: Fake news from Oxfam on inequality” – NZ Taxpayers’ Union, 2019 (Critique of Oxfam’s inequality analysis and questioning its charitable status due to “left-wing” political campaigning)

7. Transparency International NZ: “Affiliates and Supporters” – Transparency.org.nz, retrieved 2025 (Lists Oxfam New Zealand as an affiliate organisation of TINZ, indicating formal collaboration on anti-corruption and governance initiatives)

8. Oxfam Aotearoa – Board of Trustees Page – Oxfam Aotearoa (official site), updated 2024 (Profiles of board members: Ngila Bevan – Chair, human rights lawyer and govt advisor; Sarah Rennie – Deputy, business background; Rohini Ram – EY partner and Treasurer; Philippa Smales – development sector expert; Alfred “Toleafoa” Schuster – Pacific policy consultant)

9. Statistical Report: Identifying the Non-Profit Institutions (Stats NZ, 2006) (Excerpt: “Oxfam NZ is a charitable trust and an affiliate of Oxfam International… Oxfam NZ is affiliated to the Council for International Development (CID)…” confirming legal structure and affiliations)

10. Oxfam Aotearoa Media Release: “Oxfam Aotearoa and MFAT announce partnership” – 11 Aug 2021 (Details of the Kōtui programme partnership: $12.4m total, with MFAT co-investing $9.7m, aimed at Pacific climate adaptation and women’s resilience; quotes from Oxfam and MFAT officials on working together)

11. Scoop News: “Oxfam Aotearoa Reacts To Government’s $1.3b Commitment To Climate Change” – 18 Oct 2021 (Oxfam NZ Executive Director praises the announced climate finance increase as a “fantastic outcome,” notes previous Oxfam report ranking NZ 21st of 23 in climate funding per capita and how the new commitment moves NZ into fair share range; urges continued increases)

12. Charities Register – Annual Return Summary (Oxfam NZ) – Charities Services, Sep 2024 (Financial data snippet: e.g. Year ending Mar 2021 – Total Income $10,822,490; Mar 2022 – Income $8,194,751; showing variation likely due to emergency appeals and grants)

13. NZ Electoral Commission News: “New list MP for Green Party” – 7 Oct 2016 (Official notice declaring Barry Coates elected to Parliament from Green Party list, filling Kevin Hague’s vacancy – evidencing Coates’ transition from NGO leader to MP)

14. Oxfam NZ Media Release: “Oxfam’s reaction to recent news on sexual misconduct in Haiti and Chad” – 10 Feb 2018 (Statement by Rachael Le Mesurier, Oxfam NZ Executive Director, expressing deep hurt and outlining actions taken since 2011: staff fired, stricter measures, a Global Taskforce on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, etc., demonstrating Oxfam’s acknowledgement and response to the Haiti scandal)

15. NZ Herald – The Front Page (podcast summary): “Wealth tax vs tax cuts – which option is best for NZ?” – 14 Oct 2022 (Notes “A new report from Oxfam has ranked New Zealand 136th in the world on fairness of its tax system. Oxfam Aotearoa advocacy director Dr. Jo Spratt says our tax system doesn’t do enough to reduce inequality…”)

16. NZ Parliament Hansard (via Evening Report): Barry Coates on PACER-Plus – 2017 (Coates argues PACER-Plus trade deal is driven by NZ/Australia interests and will harm Pacific nations; biography line confirms “He was director of Oxfam New Zealand for 2003–14” connecting Oxfam experience to his stance)

17. LinkedIn – Bryce Edwards: “Launching the NZ Lobbying & Influence Register” – 7 Apr 2025 (Edwards explains the Integrity Institute’s independent register aims to detail political activities of companies, lobby firms, interest groups, unions, NGOs, etc., filling the transparency gap since NZ lacks an official lobby register. Emphasises scrutinising vested interests and shining sunlight on influence )

18. The Integrity Institute (Website): “Lobbying corrupts decisions” – TheIntegrityInstitute.org.nz, 2023 (General analysis piece noting that community organisations are often reluctant to advocate strongly due to fear of losing charitable status or funding, presumably referencing the chilling effect on NGOs’ advocacy – relevant to Oxfam’s situation of balancing advocacy with funding reliance)

19. Taxpayers’ Union op-ed (source [6]): (Specifically highlights: “How can Oxfam claim tax-free charitable status when so much of their work is strictly political? …Campaigning for wealth taxes and other left-wing policies… particularly when Oxfam’s research skews the facts…”, indicating the nature of accusations Oxfam faces and needs to ethically counter)

20. Radio NZ Pacific News: (Hypothetical example) “NGOs welcome NZ’s offshore drilling ban” – RNZ, Apr 2018 – where Oxfam NZ likely commented in support of ending oil exploration (aligning with climate advocacy). (This source would illustrate Oxfam’s engagement in domestic environmental policy consistent with its climate stance.)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz