Press can wait, says rail charity

The Chris Cairns Foundation for rail safety has refused to give details of its spending.

The Press asked the foundation for detailed figures last week and was told by Cairns that the information would be prepared.

"We are 100 per cent transparent," said the former New Zealand cricket star, whose sister died in a train-truck crash.

Foundation manager Megan Drayton said yesterday that The Press would have to wait until the end of the year, when the foundation filed its annual return to comply with the Charities Act.

The foundation was registered under the act in June last year and received an exemption from the requirement to file an annual return.

Formed in 2006, it has raised $602,000 to date, but exactly how the money has been spent may never be made public.

The foundation pays for Cairns' travel and accommodation when they are connected with rail-safety business. He lives in Dubai.

Charities Commission spokeswoman Sandra Bennett said the foundation was under no obligation to disclose information before December, when it would have to account for the 2008-09 year only.

Although the foundation was a charitable trust, it did not have to file accounts with the Companies Office before becoming registered under the Charities Act, she said.

The foundation raised $243,000 in 2007 and $290,000 in 2008.

Under its trust deed, the foundation's board must keep true and fair accounts of all money received. The accounts must be audited each year.

The trustees are Christchurch lawyer Paul Dorrance, KiwiRail communications manager Kevin Ramshaw, Massey University spokeswoman Sue Foley and Palmerston North police officer Neil Wynne.

- © Fairfax NZ News