NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers

The Constitution

of

“The New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers Inc”

1. NAME

The name of the Federation is the "NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF FRESHWATER ANGLERS INCORPORATED” (hereafter in this Constitution referred to as “the Federation”).

2. OBJECTS

a To protect, enhance and foster the sport and fellowship of freshwater angling.

b To foster the development and strength of angling clubs and like organisations, and to promote unity, liaison and exchange of information between such clubs and organisations.

c To advocate the protection of New Zealand’s natural environment and in particular its freshwater ecosystems.

d To advocate the protection of New Zealand’s wild trout and salmon fisheries and oppose their commercial exploitation, as a commodity, in any form.

e To promote public awareness and understanding of New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems and associated fish species, including native species and trout and salmon.

f To promote continued and undiminished availability of public freshwater angling opportunity.

g To advocate the principle of free access to fishing water on which the egalitarian pursuit of freshwater angling is founded.

h To advocate the rights of anglers to directly participate in the administration of their sport.

i To promote education of anglers and prospective anglers to enhance their ability to better enjoy the sport and to develop an appropriate sporting ethic.

j To keep the public informed of any plans or proposals which may have a detrimental effect on the natural environment of New Zealand.

k To give support to or work in association with any other society, organisation or government agency where such support or association is desirable to ensure the better protection of the natural environment and to facilitate achievement of the Federation's objectives.

l To originate and distribute information by any medium which the Federation may think desirable for the promotion of its objects.

3. POWERS

The Federation shall have the widest possible powers to do all things which may be necessary in pursuance of the Federations objects:

a To borrow or raise and expend any such monies as may be deemed necessary or expedient for giving effect to any or all of the objects of the Federation.

b To commission and pay for reports, studies or surveys, pay expenses and to do or execute any or all such things as may be necessary or expedient for giving effect to the objects of the Federation or giving effect to all such things as are incidental to such objects.

c To participate in proceedings before a local authority, tribunal, court or organ of central Government or any other body which has power to make decisions affecting the natural environment, as an advocate for the protection or enhancement of the natural environment and the sport of freshwater angling.

d To pay honoraria to appropriate officers of the Federation at levels to be set by the Federation at a general meeting.

e To open and operate bank accounts. Signatories to any account shall be; President, Treasurer and Secretary, provided that where any two may be absent the Executive may appoint any other member of the Executive as a signatory. The signatures of two signatories shall be required in order to operate an account.

f To acquire by purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire any real or personal property.

g To employ staff and appoint consultants or representatives to carry out the objects of the Federation.

h To originate, acquire, edit and distribute information which aims to assist in giving effect to the objects of the Federation.

i To join and affiliate with any person or other organisation of whatever kind and having similar objects.

j To apply for and acquire any licences, permits or other rights as may be deemed necessary by the Federation.

k To invest or lend funds or make donations to other organisations from time to time in any such rnanner as may be deemed expedient or prudent to assist in giving effect to any or all of the objects of the Federation.

l To take or accept any gift, whether subject to any trust or not for all or any of the objects of the Federation.

m To do or execute any or all such thing or things as may be necessary or expedient for giving effect lo the object of the Federation or giving effect to all such things as are incidental of such objects.

4 REGISTERED OFFICE

The Registered Office of the Federation shall be at such place or places as the Executive may from time to time determine.

5 MEMBERSHIP

a Any person, angling club, organisation interested in angling, or any incorporated society or company is eligible for membership which undertakes to conform to the rules of the Federation and otherwise comply with its requirements and shall, upon making written application to the Secretary of the Federation which is approved by the Executive, be enrolled as a member.

b There shall be four categories of membership, namely: Club, Associate, Business and Corporate. The Executive shall have the power to alter or extend the classes of membership from time to time.

Member clubs

Incorporated clubs with interests compatible with the objects of the Federation.

Associate Members

Individuals, whether members of member clubs or not.

Business Members

Associations, societies and small businesses and traders,

Corporate Members

Public companies and other larger organizations.

c Any member may resign by giving one month's notice in writing to the Secretary of the Federation and paying to the date of resignation any arrears of subscription.

d Any membership not paid within twelve months of the due date shall entitle the executive to purge the roll of any member who is in arrears of subscription payments by twelve months or more. Such purging shall not free a member from arrears of subscription and levies or from the liability to pay the dues for the financial year or any antecedent liability.

e If any member violates this Constitution, or acts in opposition to the fundamental principles or objects for which the Federation has been established, or undertakes conduct which is contrary to the interests of the Federation and whose continued membership would not in the opinion of the Executive be in the interests of the Federation, then the Executive may terminate their membership on a minimum three quarters majority vote. The Executive shall not permit them to rejoin the Federation except on terms satisfactory to it, provided, however, that such expelled member shall have the right to appear before the next Annual General Meeting of the Federation.

Reinstatement of the individual or organisation whose membership has been terminated may be sought by such individual or organisation, who may require the issue to be put to a ballot. Reinstatement of the individual or organisation shall be effected by a vote of not less than three quarters in favour of reinstatement. Failure by the individual or organisation whose membership has been terminated to attend or to be represented at this Annual General Meeting will be taken as acceptance of the decision of the Executive to terminate the membership of the individual or organisation.

6 REGISTER OF MEMBERS

The Secretary shall keep a register of members which shall record the full names and addresses of all members with the date on which they became a member and the category of their membership.

7 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LEVIES

Annual subscriptions and levies payable by members for the various classes of membership shall be those amounts fixed by a general meeting of the Federation. Such subscriptions and levies shall be due and payable immediately. Where the Executive exercises its power pursuant to rule 5b to alter or extend the classes of membership, those changes shall be submitted to the next general meeting of the Federation for ratification.

8 OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE

a The officers of the Federation shall consist of: President, immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be elected (with the exception of the immediate Past President) at the Annual General Meeting by the members.

b The Executive shall consist of the officers of the Federation, plus up to ten other members, to be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Federation and composed of equal representation from both North and South Islands. The Executive may appoint a Research Director who shall then be a member of the Executive.

c The Executive shall consist only of individuals who belong to member clubs of the Federation.

9 POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

a The affairs of the Federation shall be managed by the Executive, which shall have power to transact all business of the Federation, subject only to such resolution, policy and guidelines as may from time to time be laid down by the Federation in general meeting.

b With the exceptions of specific resolution passed at annual or special general meetings of the Federation, the management of the property and investment of the funds shall be conducted by the Executive

c The Executive may exercise any power vested in the Federation and not required by these rules to be exercised by the Federation in an annual or special general meeting.

d The Executive may from time to time appoint sub‑committees that shall consist of such persons and carry out such functions as the Executive shall appoint or direct. The Executive may delegate any of its powers to sub‑committees. The President shall be an ex‑officio member of all sub‑committees

e The Executive may meet as such time, places and in any manner it considered expedient, shall have a quorum of six, and may regulate its meetings as it thinks fit.

f The Executive shall present to the Annual General Meeting a full report of its activities and the business done during its year of office and of any matters of interest or importance to the Federation which transpired during the period covered by such report. The Treasurer shall present to the Annual General Meeting audited financial statements and a balance sheet prepared, in accordance with good accounting practice, for the previous financial year of the Federation.

g The Executive shall have power to appoint and instruct delegates or representatives to bodies with which the Federation is affiliated or which have provision for representation of the Federation at their meetings.

h The Executive shall have power to fill vacancies in its number.

10. PRESIDENT

(The President will hold office for one year or until the succeeding Annual General Meeting and may offer him/herself for re-election in the following year, provided however that no one shall be eligible for re-election to the office of President after having served in that position for three consecutive years. Deleted 2004)

The president will hold office for one year or until the succeeding annual general meeting and may offer him/herself for re-election in the following year, provided however that no one shall be eligible for re-election to the office of president after having served in that position for the immediate preceding three years unless that term be extended for a further period of 12 months by a decision of 75% of the executive of the federation at a special general meeting -- that decision to be taken by a paper vote . (Added at Special Meeting of 2004)

11. MEETINGS

a The Federation shall hold an Annual General Meeting once a year, not later than three months after the end of the financial year, and notice of such Annual General Meeting shall be giving in writing by the Secretary to all members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting by posting the last known address.

b A special general meeting may be called at any time on the decision of a majority of the Executive or at the request of ten members of the Federation (in writing stating the purpose for which such a special general meeting is required), to the Secretary. Upon receipt of the request, the Secretary shall convene such a special general meeting giving at least fourteen day's notice to all members specifying the purpose for which the meeting has been called by posting to the last known address.

c At all general meetings or meeting of the Executive, the President shall preside but in the event of the President being unable to attend the persons then present shall elect from their number a Chairperson for that meeting and such Chairperson whilst so acting shall have all the powers of the President.

12 VOTING

a At any general meeting, each financial member club shall be entitled to one vote. Each club's or group's delegate shall be identified. Business and corporate members shall have no voting rights. The President shall be entitled to one vote on behalf of associate members.

b Each financial member club may appoint a proxy to attend the meeting on its behalf, but must notify the Secretary of the name of that proxy prior to the meeting.

c Motions shall be put only by delegates or proxies of clubs.

d On any notice of motion, postal votes from absent financial member clubs shall be valid.

e At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by a show of hands or by ballot at the Chairperson's or meeting's discretion.

f Unless a ballot is so requested, a declaration of the Chairperson, that a resolution has on the show of hands been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or portion of the votes recorded in favour of or against a resolution.

g If a ballot is requested, it shall be taken in such a manner as the Chairperson directs and the result of the ballot shall be deemed to be the result of the meeting at which the ballot was requested.

h In the case of an equality of votes whether on a show of hands or on a ballot, the Chairperson at the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the ballot is taken shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

13 QUORUM AT GENERAL MEETING

The quorum at a general meeting shall be six delegates or proxies representing member clubs.

14. AUDITOR

The accounts of the Federation shall be audited by an auditor to be appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting and who shall be a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants.(deleted 2008)

The accounts of the Federation may be” Reviewed rather than Audited” (amended AGM 2008”)

15. PECUNIARY GAIN

No member of the Federation shall receive or obtain any pecuniary gain (except in the form of an honorarium) from the property or operation of the Federation provided that this rule shall not prevent the payment of such expenses or remuneration to members and employees of the Federation as the Executive of the Federation shall decide.

16 COMMON SEAL

a The Common Seal shall be kept by the Secretary at the registered office of the Federation.

b The Common Seal shall not be fixed to a document, instrument, deed, writing, paper or other thing unless pursuant to a resolution of the Executive and witnessed by the President and one other member of the Executive.

17 ALTERATION OF RULES

The Constitution may be altered only:

a If a motion of the proposed alteration has been sent in writing to the Secretary at the registered office of the Federation at least one calendar month before a general meeting of the Federation, and has been put at that meeting and carried by a three quarters majority of the membership attending or represented and who cast a vote.

b By unanimity of the total membership represented at a general meeting where the notice required under paragraph (a) of this section has not been given.

c. No addition to or alteration of the non profit aims, personal benefit clause or the winding-up clause shall be approved without the approval of the Inland Revenue Department. The provisions and effect of this clause shall not be removed from this document and shall be included and implied in any document replacing this document. (Added 2003)

18 WINDING UP

a If at a general meeting of the Federation a simple majority of the voting membership attending or represented shall resolve that the Federation be wound up, a further special general meeting shall be held not earlier than thirty days after the day of such meeting at which such resolution was passed, to confirm or reject such a resolution.

b If the resolution shall be confirmed by a simple majority of the voting membership attending or represented at such further special general meeting, the Federation shall be wound up and all surplus assets after payment of all costs, debts and liabilities of the Federation shall then be distributed at the discretion of the meeting, by way of donation to groups or organisations with aims similar at that time held by the Federation.

c In voting on any motion to wind up the Federation, postal votes from absent Financial member clubs shall be valid if in the hands of the Secretary at be time the vote is taken.