However, in 1979, the government terminated its NZ$40,000 yearly grant following CORSO’s shift towards advocating for social justice and support for the peace movement.

As World War II neared its end, the need for a significant aid initiative to rehabilitate war-torn nations and refugees became apparent.

They created awareness campaigns, raised funds, organised door-to-door clothing collections, and sorted and packed donated garments and footwear, and shipped them to numerous countries around the world,[2][4] in particular Greece, India, Hong Kong, Korea and Niue.

[4] CORSO evolved into New Zealand's largest aid agency until 1977 when it was surpassed by World Vision and Save the Children.

[8][10][1] Through its change of focus to local poverty and Māori activism, rather than simply humanitarian and disaster relief, it lost donor support to international charities.