17 February 2005: The new SCMA website is being launched tonight. New and updated information will be available at http://www.scm.org.nz/home/ from this time. Please direct any questions to webmaster@scm.org.nz.

The Constitution

As amended by the AGM 30 June 1999. 

1.       NAME

          The name of the organisation shall be the "Student Christian Movement Aotearoa Incorporated"; hereafter referred to as SCM Aotearoa.

2.       AIMS

(a)     SCM Aotearoa, which is affiliated to the World Student Christian Federation, is a movement which recognises the Maori people as tangata whenua of Aotearoa and accepts the Treaty of Waitangi (as recorded in the Appendix) as the basis of its constitution.

(b)     To understand the Christian faith, and develop our own spirituality. 

(c)     To work locally for peace and justice from an ecumenical perspective, with specific reference to working against racism and sexism;

(d)     To recognise and support individuals and groups whose aims are  consistent with those of SCM Aotearoa, and foster the links between such individuals and groups and international movements for liberation;

(e)     To contribute to the development of a relevant theology for Aotearoa.

3.   POWERS

(a)     SCM Aotearoa may do anything which will further its aims above.  Without limiting its powers, it may:

(b)     Seek, accept and receive donations, subsidies, grants, endowment gifts, legacies, loans and bequests; either in money or in kind, or partly in money and partly in kind, from any official, private or charitable source and to carry out any specified trust attaching or relating to the same;

(c)     Apply the assets and income of SCM Aotearoa, howsoever derived, towards all or any of the aims herein, either alone or in conjunction with others, in Aotearoa, and to do all such other things and apply assets and income as may be incidental or conducive to payment of any of the foregoing objects or aims, or the exercise of any of these powers;

(d)     Lend to any person, body or society, whether incorporated or not, on such terms as the National Co-ordinating Group (NCG) may think fit;

(e)     Borrow from time to time, at the discretion of the NCG, for the purposes of SCM Aotearoa, from any person, body or society, whether incorporated or not, any sum of money, on the security of all or any of SCM Aotearoa's property, real or personal assets and effects, both present and future, either under legal mortgages or charges, with power of sale and other usual powers or by any other securities of the SCM Aotearoa or without security and generally on such terms and conditions as to rate of interest or otherwise as the NCG thinks fit, and the NCG may also borrow from SCM Aotearoa's bankers on overdraft or otherwise and with or without security;

(f)      Invest, subject to the terms of any trust or grant or endowment, any money held by or on behalf of SCM Aotearoa, for specific or general purposes and in any manner compatible with SCM Aotearoa's aims; pending disbursement of any money held by or on behalf of SCM Aotearoa, to deposit the same so as to yield interest in such manner as SCM Aotearoa may approve;

(g)   Purchase,  lease, hire or receive as a gift or otherwise howsoever acquire and hold any real and personal property;

(h)     Lease, let or grant the use of land and/or buildings or parts thereof held by SCM Aotearoa on limited terms for any lawful purpose and apply the rent, commission or other payment whatsoever accruing to aims of SCM Aotearoa;

(i)      Sell, demolish or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property vested in SCM Aotearoa;

(j)   Construct, alter, restore, improve, maintain, develop, work, manage, carry out or control any buildings or work or do anything whatsoever as SCM Aotearoa may deem necessary or convenient or calculated to advance directly or indirectly the aims of SCM Aotearoa; and to do or cause to be done all matters ancillary thereto and to enter into contracts and arrangements of all kinds to achieve such ends;

(k)   Appoint representatives;

(l)   Employ, retain and engage people and to enter into contracts society or authority, provided that payments to any employee or officer of SCM Aotearoa under such an arrangement shall be limited to reasonable reward for service rendered, and to engage in any business or transaction capable of being conducted so as to directly or indirectly benefit SCM Aotearoa;

(m)    Elect and dismiss officers;

(n)     Pay and reimburse for expenses any person for any authorised task;

(o)     Adopt such means of making known the activities and aims of SCM Aotearoa as may be expedient.

4.   MEMBERSHIP

(a)     SCM Aotearoa shall consist of an unlimited number of members;

(b)     There shall be one category of membership; 
Individuals may become subscribing members of SCM Aotearoa upon payment of a prescribed subscription to SCM Aotearoa through membership of a local SCM group, and shall thereupon have their names and addresses recorded in the Register of Members.

(c)   Individuals entitled to membership of SCM Aotearoa shall be either:
(i)   Tertiary Students, or
(ii)   Any person who has been a tertiary student within the last three years, or
(iii)   Any person whose nomination to SCM Aotearoa membership by an affiliated group of SCM Aotearoa, is accepted by the NCG or by a General Meeting of SCM Aotearoa.

(d)     Local SCM groups may be affiliated to SCM Aotearoa by support of the aims of SCM Aotearoa, and by the payment of a prescribed subscription fee to SCM Aotearoa.

(e)     Local SCM groups may include members that are associate members of SCM Aotearoa.  Associate members of SCM Aotearoa do not have policy-making or decision-making power at the national level of SCM Aotearoa.

(f)      Senior Friends of SCM Aotearoa shall be either
(i)   Former members of SCM, or
(ii)   Individuals who support the aims of SCM Aotearoa. 
Senior Friends of SCM Aotearoa shall have their names and addresses recorded in the Register of Senior Friends.  Senior Friends do not have decision-making or policy-making power at the national level of SCM Aotearoa.

(g)     A person shall cease to be a member, or a group shall cease to be affiliated to SCM Aotearoa:
(i)    By failing to pay any prescribed subscription within a period of six months after the due date, or
(ii)    By delivering to an officer of SCM Aotearoa a written resignation, or
(iii)   By resolution of a General Meeting of SCM Aotearoa.

5.    REGISTER OF MEMBERS

          A register of all members shall be maintained as directed by the NCG.  The register shall contain the names and addresses of all members, and a copy shall be kept at the Registered Office of SCM Aotearoa.

6.   GENERAL MEETINGS

(a)     SCM Aotearoa shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) once every calendar year and within 13 months of the previous AGM.

(b)     A Special General Meeting (SGM) shall be held within ten weeks of :

          (i)      A resolution of the AGM requiring an SGM, or
(ii)    A resolution by the NCG requiring an SGM, or
(iii)         Receipt, by the NCG, of a petition requiring an SGM to be held,
         signed by ten individual members or two groups.

(c)     General meetings of SCM Aotearoa may transact any business provided for under its Constitution and Rules.

(d)     At least eight weeks notice of the time, date and place of every General Meeting shall be given, using the procedures set out in the Rules of SCM Aotearoa.

(e)     At least four weeks notice of the business of every General Meeting shall be given using the procedures set out in the Rules of SCM Aotearoa.

(f)   Quorum at General Meetings: 
The quorum at General Meetings shall be eight and must include at least three of the NCG.

(g)     All decisions of General Meetings shall be reached by a consensus of current members present at the meeting.

7.   APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

(a)     At each AGM the following officers shall be appointed:
(i)      A convenor of the NCG.
(ii)    A treasurer.
(iii)         One representative from SCMs in each region where an affiliated          group exists.
(iv)   If the  National Administrator is not a paid employee of the          movement, a voluntary National Administrator must be appointed
         at the Annual General meeting.

(b)     If any office of SCM Aotearoa becomes vacant between AGMs, it may be appointed by the NCG.

(c)     The AGM shall also appoint one subscribing member to be the representative of SCMA on the SCMA Trust to hold office for one year (or until the next AGM of SCMA).  Provided that if the person appointed under this paragraph resigns or otherwise leaves the Trust Board, the NCG may appoint another member to complete that person's term. 

8.   NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING GROUP (NCG)

(a)     The NCG shall consist of the officers of SCM Aotearoa as described in clause 7 (a).  

(b)     The National Co-ordinating Group shall consist of at least four people, but no more than eight people.

(c)     The members of the National Co-ordinating Group shall include the regional representatives.

(d)     The NCG shall be responsible to the General Meeting of SCM Aotearoa, and shall be subject to resolutions and directives passed at such meetings.

(e)     The NCG is a decision making body which shall oversee the affairs of SCM Aotearoa between General Meetings, guided by the aims of SCM Aotearoa, and subject to the constitution and rules. 

(f)      The NCG shall oversee all the day to day affairs of SCM Aotearoa, the operation of the office of SCM Aotearoa, and the appointment and support of paid staff, guided by its Aims, and subject to its Constitution and Rules.

(g)     The NCG has the power to appoint such persons or groups as it sees necessary, to carry out its functions. 

9.   NATIONAL WORKING GROUP

(a)     The National Working Group shall be appointed by the AGM.

(b)     The National Working Group shall be responsible to the NCG and shall be subject to the resolutions and directives passed by this group.

(c)    Members of the National Working Group shall co-ordinate SCM activities in their area of responsibility. 

(d)   Members of the National Working Group shall inform the NCG and the movement in their area of responsibility and shall support each other and the paid staff of SCM Aotearoa guided by its aims and subject to its constitution and rules.

10.   ACCOUNTS

(a)     SCM Aotearoa shall operate such bank accounts as may be required from time to time.

(b)     These accounts shall be operated under the guidance of the Treasurer, subject to resolutions and directives from General Meetings, and the NCG. 

(c)     The Treasurer shall ensure that:
(i) Complete records are kept of all moneys received and expended, of          all sales and orders, and of all assets and liabilities;
(ii) An audited set of accounts and a balance sheet are presented for          approval at each AGM;
(iii) Summaries of the accounts of SCM Aotearoa are available for all          SGMs and NCG meetings.

(d)     Any member shall have the right to examine the books at a General Meeting of SCM Aotearoa.

(e)     The accounts of SCM Aotearoa shall be audited by a Charted Accountant, who shall not be a member of SCM Aotearoa and who shall be appointed annually at the AGM of SCM Aotearoa.

11.     RULES

(a)     SCM Aotearoa shall have a set of rules which will govern the operation of General Meetings, the NCG, the Working Group, the Registered Office and other business as provided for under this constitution.

(b)     Rules of SCM Aotearoa shall not in any way contravene or negate the provisions of this constitution.

(c)     Rules may be created, altered or reviewed at any General Meeting without prior notice, provided that any creation, alteration or revision of the rules shall not affect the Charitable Nature of SCM Aotearoa, but with due regard to previous rules adopted by SCM Aotearoa.

(d)     Copies of the rules shall be provided to members on request, and shall be made available at all General Meetings.

12.     THE COMMON SEAL

          SCM Aotearoa shall have a common seal which shall be kept at the Registered Office, and which shall not be affixed to any document without the approval of either a General Meeting of SCM Aotearoa or of the NCG, and shall be witnessed by the signatures of two officers of SCM Aotearoa.

13.   REGISTERED OFFICE

(a)     SCM Aotearoa shall have a Registered Office whose address shall be recorded at the office of the Registrar of Incorporated Societies.

(b)     The location of the Registered Office shall be determined at the AGM of SCM Aotearoa.

14.   ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION

(a)   Alteration to this constitution shall be made only at General Meetings of SCM Aotearoa.

(b)   Notification of proposed amendments shall be given six weeks prior to a General Meeting by delivery of copies of the notice of the proposed amendment(s) to the Registered Office of SCM Aotearoa.

(c)     A principle copy of this constitution, with alterations and amendments, shall be kept at the Registered Office of SCM Aotearoa.

(d)     The Administrator shall register all alterations and amendments to the constitution with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies.

15.   INDEMNITY

          The NCG, the Working Group and the Officers and any employees of SCM Aotearoa shall be indemnified by SCM Aotearoa from and against all losses and expense properly incurred by them in or about the discharge of their respective duties.

16.   WINDING UP

          Upon the winding up of SCM Aotearoa any remaining assets are to be distributed for Charitable purposes within Aotearoa or as a Judge of the High Court directs.

END

Appendix to the Constitution (See Clause 2a) 

The Treaty of Waitangi

          Victoria the Queen of England, in her kind (gracious) thoughtfulness to the Chiefs and Hapu of New Zealand, and her desire to preserve to them their chieftainship and their land and that peace and quietness may be kept with them, because a great number of the people of her tribe have settled in this country and (more) will come, has thought it right to send a chief (officer) as one who will make a statement to (negotiate with) the Maori people of New Zealand.  Let the Maori chiefs accept the governorship (kawanatanga) of the Queen over all parts of this country and the Islands.  Now, the Queen desires to arrange the governorship lest evil should come to the Maori people and the Europeans who are living here without law.  Now, the Queen has been pleased to send me, William Hobson, a Captain in the Royal navy to be Governor for all places of New Zealand which are now given up or which shall be given up to the Queen.  And she says to the Chiefs of the Confederation of the Hapu of New Zealand and the other chiefs, these are the laws spoken of:

          First
The Chiefs of the Confederation and all those chiefs who have not joined in that Confederation giving up to the Queen of England forever all Governorship (Kawanatanga) of their land.

          Second
The Queen of England agrees and consents (to give) to the chiefs, the Hapu and all the people of New Zealand the chieftainship (of) their lands, their villages and all their treasured cultural possessions by the Chiefs of the Confederation and all the other chiefs give to the Queen the purchasing of those pieces of land which will be appointed by the Queen for the purpose of buying them for her.