New Zealand Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Notice of AGM on 27 November 2025

Dear Practitioner whose training has been recognised by the NZCCRTGE:

This is a notice of our upcoming AGM, at which time there will be three resolutions (below) concerning the structure of our committee. The AGM will be brief and held immediately following the NZSG AGM at the Fly Palmy Arena at 12:25pm on Thursday, 27 November, in Palmerston North.

 Background: In 2001, the NZ Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (the Committee) was formed as an Incorporated Society whose main purpose is to set standards for endoscopy training and provide a framework for recognising training meeting those standards. As an Incorporated Society, there is a membership.  Membership in the Society is “available to medical practitioners whose training has been recognised as equivalent to standards set by the Committee”.

The actual work of the Committee is carried out by an Executive Committee composed, as set out in the Rules of the Society, of six practitioners: two surgeons from the RACS, two physicians from the RACP, and two members of the NZSG (one of whom is a physician member and the other who is a  surgical member), thus creating an Executive Committee composed of three physicians and three surgeons.

In 2022 Parliament passed the Incorporated Societies Act of 2022 which requires significant changes to the Constitutions of all incorporated societies and a requirement that they re-register by April 2026. Those societies which do not comply with those changes and re-register will automatically cease to exist.

This led to a review of the Conjoint Committee’s structure as an organisation with legal advice provided by Parry Field Lawyers Limited. Our legal advice was straightforward: a Charitable Trust structure is much more fit for the purposes of the Committee than an Incorporated Society or any other legal structures such as a limited partnership or a simple company.

Parry Field Lawyers noted that a Charitable Trust:

• Would ensure that the purposes of the committee would continue uninterrupted.

• Would provide a well-understood structure that is fit for the purposes of the committee as outlined in the original Rules of 2001.

• Would provide a governance structure which is much simpler and straightforward than an Incorporated Society.

• Would be relatively simple and inexpensive to set up.

The Executive Committee is currently working on a draft trust deed which would have the same purposes as our current Rules and a similar makeup: Six Trustees, two of whom are Fellows of the RACP, two who are Fellows of the RACS, one a member of the NZSG, and one member of the NZAGS.

There will be three resolutions voted on at the meeting. They are:

1. To dissolve the current society once a Charitable Trust is formed and ready to commence its business in recognising training in gastrointestinal endoscopy (as determined by the current Executive Committee).

2. To transfer all assets from the current incorporated society to the charitable trust at the time of its dissolution.

3.  To amend the current Rules (section 16) to read that members need to be “personally or virtually present” at General Meetings.

Note that a second vote will need to be taken to finalise dissolution of our current structure. Prior to that vote, the Trust Deed of the Charitable Trust will be available for all members to review.

If you have any questions or comments, please address them to me.

Ngā mihi,

Richard Stein, MD, FRACP, FACG, AGAF

Chairperson, Executive Committee

NZ Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endcoscopy

027 545 4539 resteinmd@gmail.com