Latest news with #WillsWeek
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Wills Week: TG Macarthy Trust grants thousands to charity, including to Alzheimer's Whanganui
The work of the Alzheimer's Whanganui team (from left) Fiona Allison (diversional therapist), Mary Conway (navigator), Renee Clark (manager) and Teriē Carson (office administrator) is supported through grants from the TG Macarthy Trust facilitated by the Public Trust. Making a will is one way of supporting a favourite charity in the future - and the Public Trust says this is the ideal week to think about it. Public Trust's Wills Week is on July 14 to 20. The annual campaign encourages people to make a will, with the
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Scoop
Death Without A Will, And The Mess Left Behind
Most people do not want to talk about their death and post-mortem wishes when they are young, but there are so many reasons to have that conversation, and to write a will. Auckland couple Jay* and Rachel* have found out the hard way what happens when a loved one dies without a will. When Jay's sister Lizzy* died suddenly aged just 39, leaving behind two young children, they searched the house for some indication of what her wishes were. "We were in this grieving process and we didn't know what to do," Rachel says. "We were just hoping and hoping something would eventuate, and it didn't. "We were really looking for some guidance around what are her wishes? What does she want [done] with her possessions? "And we were really left holding the bag. We couldn't find a will." Things got worse. Lizzy had been separated from her husband for a year, and both partners had new relationships. But in the eyes of the law, they were within the two-year legal separation period, so they were still officially married - and everything went to her former spouse. "Unfortunately she had this loose end. Due to a loophole that he was able to exploit, he was able to take all of her estate, and rob their two kids of their inheritance." That included a new, substantial life insurance policy clearly meant for the children. Rachel says the children have been left with no mother, no security, and no inheritance. She says the ex lawyered up, and the law was on his side. They do not know if anything has been set aside for their niece and nephew, but they do know the former husband has suddenly acquired some big ticket items including a boat, a car and a house. He has custody of his children and Rachel believes they will benefit from these things, but she does not think it is fair to be spending up large while they are minors. If there had been a will, she says: "We would have been able to grieve a bit more, because we would have had the clarity of how to navigate this whole messy situation. It's really torn our family apart in a lot of ways. "We want what's best for the kids, and we don't know what she wanted. We're not mind readers." Today marks the start of Wills Week, where the spotlight is shone on why you shouldn't put off this most vital of life admin tasks. The Detail speaks to Cat Simpson from the Public Trust about the costs, procedures and pitfalls involved when drawing up - or putting off - a will. If you have more than $15,000 in assets (don't forget to count KiwiSaver), if you're married, have had children, got divorced; if you have gold bars stashed under the floorboards or cash in the mattress that no one knows about; if you have a family heirloom stashed somewhere secret; or want all your money given to cat causes; you should have a will. But about half of adult New Zealanders don't have a will, which Simpson describes as "quite startling" when you think about how important it is. About one in 10 people do not have a will when they die. "I'd say there's an invincibility among younger New Zealanders, [who think] 'I don't need to think about it, it's not time yet'. We did some research recently and one in five people over 55 said it was just too emotionally hard to talk about it; they didn't want to talk about it with their loved ones, they didn't want to talk about it with us. It's just a big topic. "It's a real shame because actually not doing it is a burden on your family. I like to think of writing a will as being the greatest gift you can give to people once you've gone." In today's podcast Simpson explains how to get the job done without even leaving the house, and goes through the vital stages in life where you need to write, and to update, your will. *Names have been changed to protect the identities of children involved. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.
Newsroom
13-07-2025
- Newsroom
Why you should write a will
Auckland couple Jay* and Rachel* have found out the hard way what happens when a loved one dies without a will. When Jay's sister Lizzy* died suddenly aged just 39, leaving behind two young children, they searched the house for some indication of what her wishes were. 'We were in this grieving process and we didn't know what to do,' Rachel says. 'We were just hoping and hoping something would eventuate, and it didn't. 'We were really looking for some guidance around what are her wishes? What does she want [done] with her possessions? 'And we were really left holding the bag. We couldn't find a will.' Things got worse. Lizzy had been separated from her husband for a year, and both partners had new relationships. But in the eyes of the law, they were within the two-year legal separation period, so they were still officially married – and everything went to her former spouse. 'Unfortunately she had this loose end. Due to a loophole that he was able to exploit, he was able to take all of her estate, and rob their two kids of their inheritance.' That included a new, substantial life insurance policy clearly meant for the children. Rachel says the children have been left with no mother, no security, and no inheritance. She says the ex lawyered up, and the law was on his side. They don't know if anything has been set aside for their niece and nephew, but they do know the former husband has suddenly acquired some big ticket items including a boat, a car and a house. He has custody of his children and Rachel believes they will benefit from these things, but she doesn't think it's fair to be spending up large while they are minors. If there had been a will, she says, 'we would have been able to grieve a bit more, because we would have had the clarity of how to navigate this whole messy situation. It's really torn our family apart in a lot of ways. 'We want what's best for the kids, and we don't know what she wanted. We're not mind readers.' Today marks the start of Wills Week, where the spotlight is shone on why you shouldn't put off this most vital of life admin tasks. The Detail speaks to Cat Simpson from the Public Trust about the costs, procedures and pitfalls involved when drawing up – or putting off – a will. If you have more than $15,000 in assets (don't forget to count KiwiSaver), if you're married, have had children, got divorced; if you have gold bars stashed under the floorboards or cash in the mattress that no one knows about; if you have a family heirloom stashed somewhere secret; or want all your money given to cat causes; you should have a will. But about half of adult New Zealanders don't have a will, which Simpson describes as 'quite startling' when you think about how important it is. About one in 10 people don't have a will when they die. 'I'd say there's an invincibility among younger New Zealanders, [who think] 'I don't need to think about it, it's not time yet'. We did some research recently and one in five people over 55 said it was just too emotionally hard to talk about it; they didn't want to talk about it with their loved ones, they didn't want to talk about it with us. It's just a big topic. 'It's a real shame because actually not doing it is a burden on your family. I like to think of writing a will as being the greatest gift you can give to people once you've gone.' In today's podcast Simpson explains how to get the job done without even leaving the house, and goes through the vital stages in life where you need to write, and to update, your will. *Names have been changed to protect the identities of children involved. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wills Week 2025: With NZers Set To Inherit $1.6 Trillion Over The Next 25 Years, A ‘Good Will' Message From Public Trust
This year for Wills Week (14-20 July 2025), Public Trust is calling on New Zealanders to consider how their will can be a powerful tool to support charitable giving. 'Wills aren't just about money or property,' says Public Trust Chief Executive Glenys Talivai. 'They're about people. They're about values we pass on. This Wills Week we're spreading a 'good will' message. In our role we get to see the extraordinary impact of ordinary New Zealanders who choose to leave a gift in their will to benefit others.' Every year, Public Trust manages hundreds of bequests and charitable grants made possible by New Zealand's will-makers. This has provided vital funding for a wide range of services, including counselling, life-saving health initiatives, environmental projects, education scholarships, marae renovations, animal welfare, food rescue, training for young farmers, and wrap around support for at-risk youth and families in need. For many charities, bequests are one of the largest single sources of funding they receive. 'Whether it's supporting a local community group or helping a favourite charity, a gift in your will – known as a bequest – can create a ripple effect that lasts for years to come,' says Talivai. 'Wills Week this year is about inspiring New Zealanders to think about what they want to pass on in the future. After caring for whānau and friends, we encourage you to consider leaving a gift in your will to help build stronger communities for generations to come. Even a small gift can make a big difference.' Released earlier this year in collaboration with Public Trust, JBWere's New Zealand Bequest Report estimated charities receive $320 million annually from gifts in wills. To realise the full potential of legacy giving, two things need to happen, says Talivai. 'People need to plan for the future by making a will, and make an active choice to leave a gift in their will. This could help unlock billions in future funding for the charities and communities that shape Aotearoa.' Wills Week is supported by Philanthropy New Zealand. CEO Rahul Watson Govindan says now is a powerful moment for New Zealand to reflect on how it enables generosity. 'We know that approximately $1.6 trillion is anticipated to be transferred from one generation to the next over the course of the next 25 years. For the 'giving generation' it's a wonderful opportunity to continue to make a difference to the country they have worked so hard to build and communities they care so much about. Philanthropy continues to make a meaningful difference to our collective future.' Visit to learn how to create or update your will online. New Zealand wills trends Public Trust data reveals key insights into New Zealanders' approach to estate planning: Intergenerational inheritances to top $1.6 trillion by 2050: Inheritances are estimated to grow from around the $27 billion passed in 2024, to $1.6 trillion by 2050. (Source: The Bequest Report 2025). Currently, only 1.3% of inheritances will be allocated to charities, below the levels seen in the US and UK. Good will: Around 7% of wills written with Public Trust in the last three years have a gift to a charity included. The average value of a gift in a will is around $800. The most common types of charities provided for are focused on people's health and wellbeing, ambulance services and animal welfare. Women 'willanthropists' lead the way: Female will-makers consistently donate more than their male counterparts. In 2024, younger females aged 18-35 showed a notable increase in giving compared to previous years. Giving grows with age: The largest charitable contributions come from those aged 66-75, followed closely by the 56-65 age group. Will uptake: Overall, 50% of adult New Zealanders have a will in place, and this percentage grows with age.
