Federated Farmers says Greenpeace have demonstrated a clear pattern of disruptive behaviour, political activism and illegal conduct.
Federated Farmers is calling for the Government to immediately strip Greenpeace of their charitable status, following the activist group’s illegal occupation of Port Taranaki last week.
“There is no way Greenpeace should be eligible for charitable status when they’re engaging in illegal activity,” says Federated Farmers spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
“They may call themselves a charity, but in reality they’re nothing short of an extreme activist group who illegally disrupt legitimate businesses and spread dangerous misinformation.”
Charitable status in New Zealand is intended to support organisations that advance public benefit through education, relief of poverty, and other recognised charitable purposes.
“Greenpeace clearly fails that test and allowing them to maintain their charitable status risks completely undermining the credibility of the entire charitable sector,” McIntyre says.
“Allowing these law-breaking activists to continue masquerading as a charity is a total slap in the face for thousands of legitimate charities who actually provide a valuable service to society.
“To make matters worse, hardworking Kiwi taxpayers are effectively being forced to subsidise Greenpeace’s illegal activity and political activism through huge tax breaks for their donors.”
On 6 April, Greenpeace activists unlawfully breached Port Taranaki to prevent the unloading of a cargo ship carrying palm kernel expeller (PKE).
Six people entered a restricted commercial facility, attaching themselves to objects and climbing on the roof of a bulk storage warehouse.
“Their actions stopped the unloading of 30,000 tonnes of animal feed destined for use by drought-stricken farmers,” McIntyre says.
“What a kick in the guts for those farmers, who aren’t growing any grass and desperately needed to get their hands on that feed for their animals’ welfare.”
Police arrested four of the activists for trespass and related offences, while Port Taranaki officials condemned the breach and will launch its own review.
McIntyre says Greenpeace have demonstrated a clear pattern of disruptive behaviour, political activism and illegal conduct.
“This arrogant stunt at Port Taranaki is just the latest in a long history of reckless acts from Greenpeace.
“It’s time for Charities Services to stop turning a blind eye to this blatant breach of their rules and remove Greenpeace from the Charities Register,” McIntyre says.
“If an organisation can occupy ports, threaten livelihoods, and deliberately mislead the public – all while claiming charitable status – the system is clearly broken.”
Federated Farmers has lodged a complaint with Charities Services, requesting a formal inquiry into Greenpeace’s conduct and eligibility for charitable status.
A copy of that complaint has been sent to Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Hon Louise Upston and Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Brooke van Velden.
Federated Farmers’ complaint focuses on Greenpeace’s repeated involvement in premeditated unlawful protest activity, most recently at Port Taranaki.
The complaint also highlights other instances of unlawful conduct, including the 2024 protest at Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy factory where seven individuals were arrested, and prior high-profile incidents involving trespass and disruption of commercial operations.
“We’re asking Charities Services to open a formal inquiry into whether Greenpeace still meets the requirements for registration under the Charities Act 2005,” McIntyre says.
“We also want them to investigate whether the organisation has an unlawful purpose or promotes unlawful activities, particularly in light of what’s just happened in Taranaki.
“We strongly believe it’s time for Greenpeace to be removed from the Charities Register and we trust Charities Services will give this complaint the serious consideration it warrants.”
McIntyre says Greenpeace’s registration has long been controversial and has been tested through multiple levels of the court system.
“Greenpeace was previously denied charitable status by the Charities Commission, the Charities Registration Board, and upheld at both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
“Their registration was blocked due to concerns about their political purposes and involvement in unlawful protest.”
It wasn’t until 2014 that the Supreme Court changed the legal position, finding political advocacy could be charitable in some cases.
Even then, the Charities Registration Board re-declined Greenpeace’s application, but in 2020 the High Court ruled Greenpeace must be registered, finding that prior illegal activity was too isolated to disqualify them.
“Importantly, the Court left the door open — it said that ongoing or systematic unlawful behaviour could justify deregistration,” McIntyre says.
“That’s why we believe Charities Services must now take another look.”
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