Understanding Op Shops: What They’re Actually For

There’s a common belief that op shops should provide affordable clothing to people who can’t afford things. We read it in our Op Shopping New Zealand & Op Shopping Australia groups almost every day. We were curious about this, so we looked up what NZ’s registered charities or not for profits actually say their purpose is.

What NZ’s Major Op Shop Charities Are Actually Registered For

I went to the New Zealand Charities Register (register.charities.govt.nz) and looked up the registered charitable purpose for the major op shop organisations. Here’s exactly what they say – these are direct quotes from their official registrations:

The Salvation Army New Zealand (CC37312)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “The mission of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa is: Caring for people, Transforming lives and Reforming society”

Harbour Hospice Trust (CC22413)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “To provide free specialist hospice and palliative care for people and families in our local communities. To provide skilled and compassionate holistic care during illness and ongoing bereavement care to families after death.”

Eastern Bays Hospice Trust / Dove Hospice (CC32327)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “Our purpose is to support and empower people with life threatening illness by generating sufficient funds through community partnerships.”

New Zealand Red Cross Incorporated (CC21860)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “New Zealand Red Cross’ mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity and enhancing community resilience.”

St John NZ Limited (CC43678)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “The mission of St John in New Zealand is to prevent and relieve sickness and injury and to act to enhance the health and well-being of all people throughout New Zealand”

Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals / SPCA (CC64075)

Registered Charitable Purpose: “To advance animal welfare and prevent cruelty”

What You’ll Notice

These are the exact registered charitable purposes as stated on the official Charities Register. You’ll notice that none of these registered purposes mention providing affordable goods to people.

You can verify every one of these yourself by searching the charity number on register.charities.govt.nz and find your own.

How to Check Any NZ Charity’s Purpose Yourself

If you want to look up any charity in New Zealand:

1. Go to register.charities.govt.nz
2. Enter the charity name or registration number in the search
3. Click on the charity from the results
4. Look at the “Purpose & Structure” section
5. Read their registered “Charitable Purpose”

It’s all public information and freely accessible.

The History of “Op Shops”

The term “op shop” (opportunity shop) was invented in Melbourne in 1925 by Lady Millie Tallis to raise funds for hospital equipment.

Here’s the thing: “Opportunity” didn’t mean “opportunity to find cheap clothes.”

It meant an opportunity for everyone – not just people in poverty – to buy quality secondhand items while supporting a good cause. Lady Tallis specifically wanted to remove the stigma that charity shops were only for the poor.
The original intent was the opposite of what many people seem to believe today!

More: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_Tallis

What This Means

I’m not here to tell you what to think about op shop pricing or how they should operate.

I’m just sharing what these organisations have officially registered as their charitable purpose with Charities Services New Zealand.

What you do with that information is up to you.

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Looking for op shops near you?
Visit opshops.co to search our directory of op shops, secondhand stores, and markets across Australia and New Zealand.

What do you think?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. 👇

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