Property

The two Trust Boards own property on behalf of parishes and the Diocese. The Trust Boards carry the legal responsibilities of owners while parishes carry the responsibilities of users, including maintaining the property buildings.

Faculties

No changes can be made to parish buildings without the approval of the Bishops; a formal process called a petition for faculty. Statute 13 The Faculties Statute details the process that a parish should follow depending on the level of change desired. A petition for faculty form will need to be completed and forwarded to the Diocesan Office for processing.

Maintenance

It is a parish's responsibility to maintain the property and buildings in its care. It is recommended that parish vestries develop a maintenance plan to ensure that critical maintenance is carried out in a timely manner and to manage costs over time.

Insurance

Standing Committee is responsible for insuring all property occupied by a parish. The insurance scheme is run on a cooperative basis through the Anglican Insurance Board (AIB).

Rates

Church Property that is used for religious purposes has historically been exempted from general rates imposed by local authorities (LAs). It is important to note that the exemption has been for general rates, not targeted rates, such as water, sewerage or other specific levies, and applies only to property used for some, but not all, religious purposes. Please read the attached for further information.

Civil Defence

Parishes should think about emergency preparedness. Civil Defence New Zealand provides information and guidance for this. There are local offices in both Taranaki and Waikato.