Wednesday, September 4, 2019 Lifestyle Wairarapa Midweek
Over half of Kiwis don’t have the willpower to make a Will September is Wills Month but over half of New Zealanders have yet to make a Will. A survey last year of 2000 New Zealanders by the Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC), found only 47% had a Will, and even fewer women – 44% of women to 51% of men. There were also ethnic differences. Compared with 53% of Europeans who had a Will, only 31% of Māori, 25% of Asian and 20% of Pasifika people had a Will. The CFFC’s head of Community Programmes, Peter Cordtz, said low uptake by Māori and Pasifika could be due to a cultural ethic of “collectivism”, where money and possessions are expected to be shared, and if a family strikes hardship the wider family and community will look after them. Among Pasifika particularly, there may also be a religious overlay, believing “God will provide’”. Retirement Commissioner Diane
“If you die without sorting this stuff, it can create tension and fighting within your extended family, and your partner’s extended family. The law gets involved and things can end up very different to how you might like,” said Maxwell.
PLANNING FOR TOMORROW SEPTEMBER IS WILLS MONTH
People put off making a Will because they were busy, didn’t like to think about dying and were worried about cost.
Maxwell said she had been told by Asian people that there was a superstition about Wills, with many believing drawing one up invited death into the home. “Wills don’t just cover your money and stuff, but everything you care about: who will raise your children, care for your pets, how you want your funeral to be run and where you want your final resting place to be,” said Maxwell. The increase in the number of blended families made Wills even more important, as couples had to consider their children, stepchildren and former partners.
Once you have a Will, check every few years that it’s still relevant – is there a new partner or children on the scene? Have you changed your mind about who you want to care for your children, or who you want to leave stuff to? Have you acquired something new that’s valuable that you want to include in your Will? “Ultimately, in our last moments, we want our thoughts to be peaceful, happy and reflective, and to feel secure that our Will has everything sorted for the people we’re leaving behind. It’s an act of love, made in advance,” says Maxwell. For guidance on Wills visit
sorted.org.nz
DO YOU HAVE A WILL?
Marta enjoys all areas of general practice but has a special interest in Wills.
No one likes to think about death, but many people don’t realise how important a will is for your family left behind.
As there are many different scenarios, Marta, with her expertise, can give you the right advice for your circumstance.
For legal enquiries, contact: 06 370 0000 4 Church Street, Masterton Martinborough Office Open by Appointment legal@gawith.co.nz | www.gawith.co.nz
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For advice on wills and any legal matters, contact us today