Kiwis are open to charitable giving in Wills
Published on 24 August, 2026
New research released by Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) suggests that charitable gifts in Wills are of significant interest among New Zealanders who already give to charity, and Momentum Waikato and other local charities are set to benefit.
The CFANZ survey of over 3,000 New Zealanders across different regions, ages and incomes was carried out by independent research consultancy BERL and found that 52.3% of New Zealanders surveyed were interested in the idea of leaving a gift in their Will to charity - with 17.4% indicating that they have already done so.
The voluntary, self-selected survey was a close-up look at those New Zealanders who already give - 90.5% of respondents had donated in the past year - so the findings reflect a giving-oriented group rather than the population as a whole.
“The research is clear that the biggest barrier to charitable gifts in Wills isn't a lack of willingness,” says Janice Lapwood, General Manager Endowments at Momentum Waikato.
“It's that fewer than one in five of those preparing their Wills hear about the option of leaving such gifts when they are receiving professional advice.
“To address this, we now have a number of local lawyers, accountants and financial advisors raising this possibility with their clients, and we are keen to talk to more professional advisors about what they can say when discussing Wills. We know it’s an easy conversation that can make a real difference to causes right here in the Waikato.
“September is Wills Month, an annual reminder to make or update a Will and to consider leaving a charitable gift. The specific message we will be getting out this year, to both people considering their Will and those that advise them, is that even leaving just 1% of your estate to the charities or causes you care about will make a difference.
“With the intergenerational transfer of wealth happening as the Baby Boomers pass away in the next few years, normalising the gifting of a 1% to your community would be transformational for our region and society,” says Janice.
Key findings from the BERL research include:
Over half of respondents (52.3%) indicated interest in leaving a charitable gift in their Will, with 17.4% indicating they have already done so, 25.4% thinking about it and 9.5% planning to do so in the future.
Almost 9 in 10 people (87.6%) give to local causes.
The top reason people leave a gift in their Will is it aligns with their personal values (69.3%).
The top reason holding people back from leaving a charitable gift in their Will is wanting to look after family first (72.6%).
Only 20.2% of those who received professional advice said the topic of charitable giving had been raised.
90.5% of respondents had donated in the past year, compared with 61% of New Zealanders nationally (CAF World Giving Report 2026) - reflecting the fact that this research draws on a sample of people who already give.
A summary of the BERL research findings around charitable gifts in Wills is available at the CFANZ site, with the full research report Giving in Aotearoa NZ being released in November.
To learn more about why and how people should leave a charitable gift in their Will, visit Momentum Waikato's website.
