These are the Bylaws of the Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand.

1       Name

The Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand (hereinafter called the Society) is a regional Society within the General Anthroposophical Society (hereinafter the GAS), which has its centre at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland.

2        Legal Status

The Society is registered as Charitable Trust under the New Zealand Charitable Trusts Act 1957 and incorporated on 23 November 1963. The charitable trust has been approved by Inland Revenue Department as a Donee Organisation.

3       Objectives

The Society's objectives are expressed in the Principles given by Rudolf Steiner at the founding of the General Anthroposophical Society at Christmas, 1923.

The Society is intended to be a community of human beings who desire to further the life of the soul - both in the individual and in human society - on the basis of a true knowledge of the spiritual world. This is to be attained not only by studying the works of spiritual science but also by fostering educational opportunities for those people in all walks of life who seek answers to contemporary issues out of a renewal of human culture. It is a purpose of the Society to cultivate Anthroposophy through artistic, scientific and educational activities (in the broadest sense of these concepts) and the Society intends to devote all reasonable means available to realise this purpose. This shall include the appropriate supporting of libraries and providing of lectures and publications.

4        Membership

Application for membership of the Society shall be made on the Application for Membership form sent to the General Secretary. An applicant becomes a member of the Society at the moment membership of the GAS is granted by the Executive (Vorstand) of the GAS in Dornach.

A member of the General Anthroposophical Society transferring from another country may join the Society by applying to the General Secretary.

Members shall do nothing to bring the Society into disrepute.

Resignation of membership of the Society shall be notified by a written, signed declaration to the General Secretary, effective on notification to the Executive of the GAS in Dornach. In the event of a member resigning also from the General Anthroposophical Society, or dying, the membership card shall be returned to the General Secretary.

The Council reserves the right to expel a member who fails to comply with the bylaws. Such action will only be taken after consulting with local members and providing the member with the opportunity to respond.

5        General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting shall be held at a time and place to be decided by the Council. Notices of motion shall be sent to the Chairperson of the Council at least eight weeks before the Annual General Meeting and circulated with the agenda to members at least six weeks before the meeting. The general and the special meetings are presided over by the chairperson of the Society or by a chairperson designated by the Council.

On the recommendation of the Council, or upon a requisition sent to the Chairperson of the Council and signed by not fewer than five per cent of the membership, the Chairperson of the Council shall call a Special General Meeting at any time for any specific purpose.

Notice of motion shall accompany such requisition. At least four weeks notice of such meeting and its business shall be given to members.

In the case of a Special General Meeting for the purpose of alterations to the Bylaws, notice shall be received in writing by the Chairperson of the Council at least eight weeks before the date of the meeting and circulated to the members at least six weeks before the meeting. Attendance of ten percent or more of the members at any general or special meeting shall constitute a quorum. Each member present has one vote.

A vote shall not be taken on matters concerning the Society's spiritual goals and tasks, which shall be handled only in free discussion.

6           Council

The management of the affairs and property of the Society shall be vested in an executive Council consisting of not fewer than three members.

The three offices of the Council shall be the General Secretary, the Chairperson and the Treasurer. The Council shall nominate one of its members as chairperson and one of its members as treasurer, both nominations to be ratified by the general meeting. The same person may not fill two offices. Should an office fall vacant the Council may fill the office until the next General meeting.

The Council has full executive powers to carry out the aims and tasks of the Society and to handle any matter affecting the Society in New Zealand. A quorum at all Council meetings shall be three, or four if the Council membership is six or more.

The Council shall maintain communication with the general membership and groups [or branches].

7      Appointment of Councillors

Council members shall be nominated by the Council in consultation with the general membership and confirmed at a General meeting. Council members, the General Secretary exempted, are appointed for four years and are eligible for re-nomination.In the event of the number of Councillors falling below three and the Council failing to increase its numbers, nominations for Council members shall be delivered to the remaining Council and shall be dealt with at a Special General Meeting or at the Annual General Meeting.

8        General Secretary

The General Secretary shall be appointed at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for an indefinite period. Nominations for General Secretary shall be the subject of consultation between the various groups and the Council. Appointment of the General Secretary must be confirmed by the Executive (Vorstand) of the General Anthroposophical Society in Dornach.

The office of the General Secretary shall become vacant for the following reasons:

a) His or her death, resignation or loss of mental capacity.

b) When a majority of members no longer have confidence in the General Secretary.

c) At the request of the Executive at the Goetheanum.

The General Secretary shall act as the Society's official representative with the Executive at the Goetheanum and the Anthroposophical Movement worldwide. The Society has its office where the General Secretary resides.

9             Accounts

The accounts of the Society shall be examined and checked by a person with a professional knowledge of financial accounts appointed by the AGM and a statement of their verification shall be included with the annual Financial Statements.

10       Finance

The Council shall present to the Annual General Meeting for approval the annual budget incorporating the costs and revenues of proposed undertakings and activities for the current financial year.

Members shall be asked each year by the Council to respond to the Treasurer making a commitment to submit an annual, or more frequent, unconditional contribution or gift to the Society's funds; or otherwise communicate with the Council.

The Society shall submit to the General Anthroposophical Society an annual amount, in consultation with the Executive at the Goetheanum in Dornach.

The financial year shall end on December 31st.

11       Common Seal

The Society shall have a Common Seal, which shall be kept in the custody of the General Secretary and shall not be affixed to any deed or document except pursuant to a resolution of the Council and in the presence of any two Council members.

12      Group [or Branch] Bylaws

Each Group [or Branch] in New Zealand, as recognised by the Society's Council, is free to make its own Bylaws for the conduct of its own affairs, provided such Bylaws in no way conflict with the Society's Bylaws.

13       Dissolution of Society

In the event of the dissolution of the Society the General Meeting shall decide on the manner of liquidation and the application of the assets. The Society's capital shall be used within New Zealand in such a case, according to the aims of the General Anthroposophical Society.

14       Alterations to Bylaws

Alterations to Bylaws of the Society may be made only by resolution passed by a seventy five per cent majority at any Annual General Meeting or at any Special General Meeting called for this purpose, provided nothing shall be done to imperil its donee status.

Adopted at the Annual General Meeting 1968

Amended: 1969, 1976, 1987, 1988, 1991,1993,1994,1995,1997, and 1999.

Major revision in 2000. Amended July 2002, 2004 and 2005.