Shedding the shackles of Bowman: A critical review of the political purpose doctrine and charity law in New Zealand

Abstract

The shackles that bound New Zealand to the political purpose doctrine, the notorious doctrine found within charity law, have now, at last, been shed, with the delivery of the long awaited Supreme Court judgment of Re Greenpeace of New Zealand Incorporated. This article explores whether the shedding of the shackles that bound New Zealand jurisprudence to this doctrine was inevitable, in light of national and international judicial influences and commentary.