Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes

Published: 24 October 2024

The Heart Foundation is delighted to continue our work helping New Zealanders live longer, healthier lives due to permanent legislation allowing charities to operate fundraising lotteries online.

The Heart Foundation welcomes the Government’s announcement that legislation allowing charities to operate fundraising lotteries online is permanent.

Once Royal Assent has been granted, “Class 3” lotteries, which are those run for charitable purposes, can be conducted remotely by phone or online permanently.

“We’re really pleased to have certainty for the future of our popular Heart Foundation Lottery, which allows us to fund vital life-saving work,” says Heart Foundation Chief Executive Clive Nelson.

“We’re grateful that New Zealanders can continue to support charities in this way.”

Class 3 lotteries have been allowed to be conducted online since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when traditional methods became untenable.  However, the law change was set down to expire at the end of October this year.

“We’re delighted that we can continue our work in communities across the country and help New Zealanders living with heart disease to live longer, healthier lives,” Clive says.