Upper Clutha Environmental Society president Julian Haworth is urgently investigating why the organisation has been struck off the incorporated society register.
Mr Haworth yesterday said he was shocked and worried to learn yesterday the Societies and Trusts Online Register showed the society was struck off on January 22.
The first he had heard of it was when it was raised at the Project Hayes hearing earlier in the day.
He suspected the society had forgotten to file its accounts to the registrar for the past two years, leading the registrar to assume the society was no longer active and taking action to dissolve the society.
The society had not received a notice from the registrar advising the reporting dates had not been missed, which Mr Haworth said was a concern.
Mr Haworth said the society's accounts for the past two years had been completed and the accounts were in order.
The Societies and Trusts Online Register shows the society was first incorporated in July 1995.
The last financial statements were filed in 2006.
The society's contact address is listed as 117 Lakeside Dr, a property Mr Haworth used to own with his former partner but sold some years ago.
No officers are listed on the register but the society's PO Box address is.
The registrar could revoke a dissolution if satisfied the society was still operating, but it would cost $200 and require the society to fill out and return some forms.
Mr Haworth said yesterday he hoped that could be easily done.
The Upper Clutha Environmental Society had 42 paid-up members at March 31, 2008, according to the annual report issued in May last year.
Apart from giving submissions at the Project Hayes hearing this week, the society will be involved in at least five Environment Court hearings this year and a variety of tenure review, tracks, access and district plan projects.
The society earns money through subscriptions ($20 per year) and applies for grants and donations.
The 2008 annual report said that in the past 10 years, the society had spent $17,032 from subscriptions and donations on Environment Court expenses.
