Leaving a gift in your will to a cause you care about is becoming ‘Kiwi as’.

New research shows Kiwis who already give to their communities are increasingly open to leaving a charitable gift in their will. And for one Taranaki woman, a conversation about wills sparked a lightbulb moment about the legacy she could leave behind.

September is Wills Month, a chance to make a will, update an existing one and think about what matters to you and the legacy you might like to leave.

New research commissioned by Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) and undertaken by independent research consultancy BERL found that 52.3% of New Zealanders surveyed were interested in leaving a charitable gift in their will, while 17.4% said they had already done so.

Almost nine in 10 respondents also said they give to local causes.

For Taranaki Foundation Funding and Relationships Manager Theresa Cayley, the research reflects what she sees in conversations with people about their wills and their giving. “People often don’t know about leaving gifts in their wills, but once you have the conversation, the light bulb goes off,” Theresa says.

Eleanor Cater, CEO of Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ), which released the BERL research on giving, and Theresa Cayley from Taranaki Foundation, together at Taranaki Foundation’s 10-year celebration event in December 2025.

A lightbulb moment for Janine

When Janine Evans was approaching her 65th birthday in 2024, she decided to mark the milestone in a way that would extend well beyond the celebrations.

After hearing Taranaki Foundation Chief Executive Josh Hickford speak about the impact of leaving a 10% gift in a will, Janine had what she describes as a “lightbulb moment” herself.

She spoke to her lawyers at Legal Solutions and included a charitable gift in her will.

“I’ve been deeply influenced by my parents, Gwen and John Wills, who instilled in me a strong sense of community giving. Their example of helping others in the community has stayed with me and I’ve made it a habit to donate regularly to causes I care about. Giving back has always been a key part of our family’s beliefs.”

Janine’s gift will be invested and grown into an ongoing source of funding. In time, it will support child protection and the Govett-Brewster Charitable Foundation.

For Janine, the decision was about continuing something that has always been important to her.

“It’s important to help future generations,” she says.

“Even a small part of what you leave behind can make a big difference. Charitable giving isn’t just for the wealthy. Imagine if all my friends follow suit, imagine what we could do, what a difference we could make to our local community.”

Looking after family and community

The BERL research found that the biggest reason people hold back from leaving a charitable gift in their will is wanting to look after their family first.

Theresa says that is completely understandable, and a charitable gift doesn’t have to be a choice between family and community. “It’s look after your family first. And then if the gift in your will is even 1%, that gift could make a huge difference. “It’s not a 100% gift in your will. Although of course that would be fantastic for the community,” she says.

The research also found that the top reason people choose to leave a charitable gift is because it aligns with their personal values.

That is something Janine understands.

Her own gift reflects the causes she has supported throughout her life, and the community she still calls home.

“It’s very cool to know I can continue supporting causes I care about, even after I’ve gone,” she says.

For Taranaki Foundation, stories like Janine’s show that leaving a gift in a will isn’t simply about money. It’s about values, generosity and thinking about the kind of community you want to help create for the generations that follow.

This Wills Month, make a will or update your existing one. Talk to your lawyer or professional advisor about your options, including whether a charitable gift could be part of your legacy. After all, the research tells us it’s becoming ‘Kiwi as’ to give back and leave something to your community.

Read the write-up in the Taranaki Daily News: Over half of Kiwis open to leaving gifts in wills, study finds