Eligible charitable work

In certain circumstances, time spent doing eligible charitable work outside New Zealand is considered as residence and presence in New Zealand to meet the requirements for New Zealand Superannuation.

Any time spent doing charitable work outside New Zealand is included as residence and presence in New Zealand if the client was:

• ordinarily resident in New Zealand during their time overseas and
• doing work as an accredited volunteer appointed by Volunteer Services Abroad or
• doing full-time voluntary work that is humanitarian work

Volunteer Service Abroad is a charity who appoint accredited volunteers to travel and do voluntary work overseas.

Time spent volunteering for Volunteer Services Abroad can only be included as residence and presence in New Zealand from 8 April 1963. Any time spent volunteering before this date cannot be included.

Humanitarian work includes providing help and support to promote human welfare.

Time spent doing full-time voluntary humanitarian work overseas can only be included as residence and presence in New Zealand if:

• the client was not paid for the work except a small allowance for basic living costs
• the work was for a charitable entity registered under the Charities Act 2005, or an entity affiliated with or closely related to a registered charitable entity and
• the entity's principal function is to give aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in 1 or more countries

Note only time spent working for a charitable entity from 1 July 2005 can be included as residence and presence in New Zealand. This is the date the Charities Act 2005 came into force.