• :: Preventing cruelty to animals
• :: Alleviating suffering of animals
• :: Promoting our policies through education and advocacy

The RNZSPCA is a registered charity (Charities Commission number CC22705).

The RNZSPCA operates under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. For more information on the Act, please click here.

How is the Society funded?

As a charity, our Society receives only 2% of its funding from the New Zealand government, with this funding ear-marked for rural cases only - those involving animals on farms around the country. As a result, we rely almost entirely on the generosity of the public to carry out our life-saving work. The majority of our income comes from donations, bequests and our own fundraising efforts.



How is the workload shared?

The Society operates at two levels - national and district.

At the National level, SPCA National Office:

• :: Coordinates the activities of the 48 SPCA branches and member societies across the country
• :: Handles inspector training throughout the country
• :: Coordinates our national empathy education programme, One of the Family
• :: Arranges national fundraising promotions, such as Cupcake Day for the SPCA
• :: Coordinates the SPCA's national free range pork and egg accreditation scheme
• :: Represents the Society on government committees
• :: Handles major prosecutions which have national implications
• :: Promotes and handles all approaches to government for new and amended legislation relating to animal welfare
• :: Liaises with overseas and international welfare groups

At the district level, local SPCA's:

• :: Investigate and deal with complaints of cruelty and neglect
• :: Uphold the laws relating to the treatment of animals and take prosecutions where necessary
• :: Give sanctuary to animals in distress
• :: Rehome suitable animals where possible
• :: Ensure that animals which cannot be kept alive for whatever reason are humanely euthaniased
• :: Assist with public education
• :: Promote responsible pet ownership

New Zealand structure

Not all local SPCAs are "branches". A small number of SPCA's that were established in New Zealand in the last century - the 'original' SPCA's if you like - are member societies. These member societies do not use "RNZ" in their name (eg Wellington SPCA, Otago SPCA).

The national governing body of the RNZSPCA is the National Council, elected at the AGM by representatives from SPCA branches and member societies across the country.

Each of the 48 local SPCA's incorporates in its title the name of the district in which it operates. For example - the Waikato Branch RNZSPCA; Canterbury Branch RNZSPCA; and so on. For a list of local SPCA branches and member societies, please click here.

Each of the 48 local SPCA's runs its own affairs and handles its own finances. A voluntary committee controls their SPCA's activities. The larger SPCA's have some paid staff, but most rely on unpaid volunteers. Each SPCA has one or more warranted inspectors, who may be either paid or voluntary, to investigate complaints of cruelty and to enforce the Animal Welfare Act 1999.



Facilities

Facilities at SPCA's vary throughout New Zealand, from large complexes to a few cages in someone's backyard. Even where large complexes exist, SPCA's rely heavily on help from volunteers in order to carry out the day-to-day operations of the centre.