The aims and objects of the Association shall be: 

• to promote the learning and teaching in New Zealand of languages other than English;
• to represent the interests of New Zealand teachers of international and classical languages to Government, and at national and international gatherings and conferences; 
• to lend support to the activities of all language teacher associations and language teachers in New Zealand, both nationally and regionally, including teachers of international and classical languages, Māori, English to Speakers of Other Languages and Community Languages.

Shall include the following: 

• acting as a forum where all language teachers can share ideas and experiences relating to the study and teaching of languages; 
• speaking authoritatively on behalf of members on matters of concern;
• acting as a pressure group, and making appropriate representations, on matters of concern to language teachers; 
• encouraging research into language teaching and learning in New Zealand;
• promoting greater interaction in language teaching between Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors; 
• other activities as appropriate to further the aims of the Association.

• Membership in the Association shall be open to any persons who subscribe to the
  aims of the Association and pay their annual subscription.
• The following categories of membership and/or subscribers shall apply:
• Individual membership rates: fixed rates apply (see Working Rules).
• The NZALT may award a Life Membership of the Association to any member or past
  member who is considered to have made an especially valuable contribution to the
  work of NZALT. Procedures for nomination and election of Life Members are set out
  in the Working Rules of the Association.
• School/Group membership: Applicable to schools wishing to subscribe more than ten
  teachers. The rate for a school membership shall be ten (10) times the individual rate
  applicable for the school.
• Membership rights and entitlements shall be defined in the Working Rules.

• National organisation: All members shall belong to the National organisation.
• Provision is made in the Working Rules for local and national Specific Language
  Associations to affiliate with NZALT.

• The Association shall hold a Conference every two years, which shall normally be
  rotated around three areas (North, Central, and South) consecutively. The National
  Executive will appoint a Conference Convenor who shall be responsible for providing
  a programme of wide professional interest for members.
• Annual General Meeting: During the year of the Biennial Conference, the Conference
  shall include the Annual General Meeting. In alternate years the Annual General
  Meeting shall be held at a place appointed by members of the National Executive and
  communicated to members at least eight weeks before the meeting. The Annual
  General Meeting shall be open to all members of the Association.
  The Annual General Meeting shall:
  • be held no later than 30 November in any year;
  • receive the Annual Report of the President;
  • receive the Financial Report from the Treasurer;
  • vote on constitutional amendments;
  • receive the results of the election of executive officers;
  • set the member subscription rates for the ensuing year;
  • vote on the award of Life Memberships recommended by the National
    Executive;
  • vote on remits submitted as in Article VI.C. below.
• Remits: Remits to the Annual General Meeting may be forwarded to the Executive by
  any member or group of members. Remits must be received by the Secretary at least
  six weeks before the Annual General Meeting and shall be published at least one
  calendar month before the Annual General Meeting. Such remits must be seconded by
  a member and contain an explanatory statement.
• Procedure at General and Special meetings:
  • All questions at general and special meetings shall be decided by vote
    according to the majority of those present and voting. In the case of an
    equality of votes the question shall be decided by the casting vote of the
    chairperson. In every poll or secret ballot, every member shall be entitled to
    one vote.
  • Any meeting may move into committee when a motion to move into
    committee is supported by a majority of those present and voting.
  • The quorum at special and general meetings shall be ten non-Executive
    members. Members will be given the opportunity to attend the special and
    general meetings by electronic means.
  • If fewer than 20% of the membership are present at the Annual General
    Meeting, there shall be a referendum of members on items deemed significant
    by the National Executive.

• Composition: The National Executive shall minimally consist of:
  • The President;
  • The Vice-President;
    The Secretary;
    The Treasurer;

This group constitutes the Public Relations, Policy and Practice (PPP) Group.

Other officers that are required from time to time for the effective running of the work
of the Association will be stated in the Working Rules. They will be appointed to the
Executive through a nomination process and ratification of appointment at the Annual
General Meeting as outlined in the Working Rules (see also Elections below).
The President must have had at least one year's experience on the Executive
Committee within the previous five years.

The duties and powers of the National Executive are set out in the Working Rules of
the Association. The initial terms of office of the members of the National Executive
shall be as follows:

• President: two years;
• Vice-President: one year;
• Secretary: one year;
• Treasurer: one year;
• Other officers: one year

Thereafter, all officers may be eligible to be re-elected for further one-year terms.

• Other positions: During the Annual General Meeting or later the Executive may
  appoint from either the General Membership or the Executive such officers as will
  assist the aims and functions of the Association.The term of office of such
  office-bearers is set out in the Working Rules of the Association.
• Co-option: The National Executive shall have the power to fill any casual vacancy on
  the Executive, which may arise. Such co-opted committee members shall hold office
  until the next Annual General Meeting, and shall have full voting rights.
• Elections: Nominations for membership of the Executive shall be submitted in writing
  to the Secretary at least six weeks before the Annual General Meeting and shall
  include the names of the proposer and seconder and a statement in support of the
  nominee. Nominations shall be published at least one calendar month before the
  Annual General Meeting. Where there is more than one nomination a ballot of
  members shall be conducted by scrutineers appointed by the National Executive in
  time for the results of such elections to be submitted to the Annual General Meeting.
• Common Seal: The Common Seal shall be held in custody of the Secretary and may
  not be appended to any documents except in the presence of the Secretary and one
  other Executive Officer, following an authorising resolution passed by the Executive
  Committee.

• Subscriptions: The normal subscription rate for each year shall be set at each Annual
  General Meeting. The due date for subscriptions shall not be later than 31 March of
  any financial year.
• Income and Property: Income and property of the Association however derived shall
  be applied solely towards the aims of the Association as stated in Article II of this
  Constitution.
• Records of the Association: The Treasurer shall have the responsibility of keeping a
  true and accurate record of all financial transactions within and on behalf of the
  Association, of receiving money, writing receipts, opening and operating bank
  accounts, making payments and preparing annual accounts for auditing.
• Authorisation: Payments made online shall require the authorisation of the Treasurer
  and one other National Executive member.
• Investment: The Treasurer shall have the power to invest surplus funds of the
  Association on the authority of the National Executive.
• Borrowing Money: It shall be a further power of the Association to borrow money
  with or without security upon leasehold or freehold or howsoever the National
  Executive shall determine.
• Application of Profits:
  • Any income, benefit, or advantage shall be applied to the aims of the
    Association.
  • No members of the Association or any person associated with a member shall
    participate in or materially influence any decision made by the Association in
    respect of payment to or on behalf of that member or associated person of any
    income, benefit, or advantage whatsoever.
  • Any such income shall be fair and reasonable and relative to that which would
    be paid in arms length transaction (being open to the market value).
  • The provisions and effect of this clause shall not be removed from this
    document and shall be included and implied in any document replacing this
    document.

If the National Executive shall be satisfied and resolve that the continued membership of any
member is not in the best interest of the Association or its objects, notice shall be sent to the
member stating the reasons why the continuance of his/her membership has been raised, and
inviting him/her to submit any information or comment which s/he considers should be taken
into account, and if within seven days of notice no reply is deemed satisfactory, the member
shall be notified by registered mail of the time and place and not less than two weeks ahead at
which the Executive will meet to consider the matter and at which s/he can appear or be
represented or to which s/he can forward such submission as s/he may desire. If the decision
of the Executive is to expel the member, the minutes shall state the reasons, and the tenor of
any submission that may have been made by or on behalf of the member, and if the decision
of the Executive was not unanimous the number of votes recorded for and against the motion.
The member shall be notified of the decision by registered mail within seven days. A member
expelled pursuant to this rule shall, if s/he shall have paid his/her membership fee for the
current year, be entitled to a refund of the proportionate part thereof in respect of the balance
of the year then expired. A member expelled pursuant to this rule shall have the right of
appeal against such expulsion to a general meeting or a special general meeting, whichever
shall be the first general meeting held after the member has given notice of his/her appeal.
The decision of the general meeting on the matter shall be final.

• For changes to the Constitution a two-thirds majority vote at the Annual General Meeting shall be required, provided no change shall be permitted which affects the winding up or pecuniary profits rules. Notice of such changes shall be submitted to the Secretary at least six weeks before the Annual General Meeting and published at least one calendar month before the Annual General Meeting. 
• For changes to the Working Rules a majority vote of the full Executive shall be required. Such changes must remain within the aims and rules of the Constitution.
• No addition to or alteration of the aims /objectives (clause II AIMS), payments to members (clause VIII FINANCE I. Application of Profits) or the winding-up clause (XI) shall be approved without the approval of Inland Revenue. The provisions and effect of this clause shall not be removed from this document and shall be included and implied into any document replacing this document.

• The Association may be wound up voluntarily if, at a general meeting, its financial
  members pass by a simple majority of those present and voting a resolution to do so.
  This resolution must be confirmed by such a majority at a subsequent general
  meeting, which has been called for that purpose and is held not earlier than 30 days
  after the original resolution was passed. The voluntary winding up of the Association
  shall be subject to the rules of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and any
  regulations made under the authority thereof.
• In the event of the Association being wound up the surplus assets, after payment of
  the Association's liabilities and the expenses of the winding up, shall be handed to a
  non-profit organisation (or organisations) which includes among its main objectives
  similar objectives to this Association. In no event shall the surplus assets of the
  Association be divided among the members thereof, or shall the members of the
  Association have any beneficial interest therein.

Resolved on the 12th day of May 1974, at Wellington, with amendments passed at Annual
Meetings held in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994,
1997, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2022.