Of charities’ payments

charitable tax-free status. Political campaigning is not a charitable service, but charities can back specific policies or causes if it’s relevant to their charitable service.

Weight said it was clear ‘‘a charity must not support or oppose a political party or candidate’’. She said charities should not allow political candidates to use their resources or ‘‘endorse’’ a candidate.

Tamihere acknowledged his charities and Charities Services were in ‘‘negotiations’’ about the endorsements and funding.

As well as being the president of Te Pāti Māori, Tamihere is the chief executive of the charities Te Whānau Waipareira and the National Urban Māori Authority. In 2019, he ran to be Auckland’s mayor and the following year he stood for Te Pāti Māori as its coleader and in the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate.

Both charities, in annual returns submitted to Charity Services, said they ‘‘endorsed’’ Tamihere’s ‘‘political aspirations’’ and provided financing to him.

For the two campaigns, Te Whānau Waipareira gave him an interest-free loan of $385,307 with an ‘‘on demand’’ repayment term. In its 2021 return, it said a repayment was yet to be made.

In the annual returns, the charities Tamihere leads clearly outlined the funding and endorsements they have given to his political aspirations.

Te Whānau O Waipareira Trust Group endorsed Tamihere as its chief executive officer to pursue ‘‘the general elections and political aspirations’’. The National Urban Māori Authority – which uses senior management services from Te Whānau O Waipareira Trust – also endorsed its chief executive for his political aspirations.

In the year ended June 30, 2021, it paid $11,862 in ‘‘sponsorship payments’’ for him to pursue the 2020 general elections and political aspirations for the Māori Party.

In the year ended June 30, 2020, it paid $70,833 for him to pursue the 2019 elections for mayor of Auckland.