A GIFT IN YOUR WILL CAN KEEP A CHILD WARM, SAFE AND LOVED - LONG AFTER YOUR'RE GONE

Every care pack we put together starts with someone who decided to help. A gift in your will is one of the simplest, most lasting ways to make sure that support keeps going for children being raised in care - long into the future. It costs you nothing today, and it can mean everything to a child who needs it most.

See suggested wording

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WHY A GIFT IN YOUR WILL MATTERS

Kids in Need Waikato provides personalised care packs for children being raised in care, from newborn to 17 years old, across the Waikato and Rotorua.

Every pack is put together by volunteers, filled with things a child actually needs, and a few things that are simply theirs. Gifts in wills help make sure that's still true for the next generation of kids who need us.

10,500+

Care packs put together since 2018

8,000+

Volunteer hours given every year

130

Average packs put together each month

WAYS TO LEAVE A GIFT

There's more than one way to include Kids in Need Waikato in your will.

Your lawyer can help you choose what fits your circumstances.

A residuary giftLeave all or part of what's left in your estate once you've looked after the people closest to you.

A percentage giftLeave a set share of your estate, so your gift naturally grows or shrinks in step with it.

A specific giftLeave a set sum of money, or a particular asset such as shares or property.

HOW TO LEAVE A GIFT TO KIDS IN NEED WAIKATO

1. Have the conversation

Talk it through with the people closest to you — your family, whoever you trust with the decision.

2. Write or update your will

See your lawyer or trustee company - they'll help you write a new will, or add a gift to the one you already have. It costs nothing extra to include a charity. Prefer to do it yourself? Everywill lets you write a legally valid will online for free, in about 10 minutes.

3. Use our details

Our suggested wording is below - your solicitor can use it as a starting point and adjust it to suit you.

4. Let us know (if you'd like to)

There's no obligation, and it stays completely confidential. Telling us just means we can say thank you, and make sure your wishes are recorded exactly as you intend.

SUGGESTED WORDING FOR YOUR WILL

Every situation is different, and your lawyer will tailor this to yours. As a starting point, here is suggested wording naming Kids in Need Waikato:

I give to The Kids in Need Waikato Charitable Trust (Charities Registration Number CC55477), of 118 Fencourt Road, Cambridge 3496, New Zealand, [the sum of $______ / ______% of the residue of my estate / my ______], to be used for its charitable purposes generally, and I direct that the receipt of an authorised officer of the Trust shall be a sufficient discharge to my trustees.

This wording is a starting point only. Please check the exact details with your solicitor before finalising your will.

QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK US

Do I need to have a lot to leave a gift?

No. Gifts of every size help. Some of the support that means the most to us comes from people who left what they could, whatever that looked like.

Can I look after my family first?

Of course. Most people leave gifts to family and friends first, then leave all or part of what remains to causes they care about — that's exactly what a residuary gift is for.

Can I change my mind later?

Yes, always. A gift in your will isn't a pledge or a contract — you're free to update your will at any time, for any reason.

Do I need to tell you I've included a gift?

Not at all, though it does help us plan for the future, and it means we get the chance to say thank you while we can. Anything you tell us stays completely confidential.

Are there any tax implications?

New Zealand doesn't have estate or gift duty, so there's nothing extra to pay on a gift left to a registered charity like ours. Your solicitor can confirm how this applies to your estate.

What will my gift be used for?

Unless you tell us otherwise, gifts are used where they're needed most — personalised care packs, and the volunteers, storage and transport that get them to kids across the Waikato, Rotorua and Taumarunui.

A pack is never just clothes and toys. It's a foster parent taking a breath. A grandparent raising grandchildren feeling a little less alone. A gift in a will is a way of standing beside them, years from now, just as you would today.

LET'S TALK, IN YOUR OWN TIME

There's no pressure, and no obligation - just a conversation. If you're thinking about leaving a gift to Kids in Need Waikato in your will, or you'd simply like to know more, we'd love to hear from you.