Protecting our native plants, animals and wild places, on land and in our oceans. Help us to help nature.
Leave a gift in your will
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Our natural treasures need your support
Forest & Bird has helped to save many natives from extinction, such as the kakapo
Having evolved in isolation for over 80 million years, New Zealand has a stunningly unique range of plants and animals, many of which are struggling to survive.
Our "Christmas tree" pohutukawa, mischievous kea and giant weta are part of our national identity as New Zealanders, yet many of our native species are under threat. Let's not take them for granted.
Forest & Bird was established in 1923 with the goal of protecting these precious native species and their environment.
Since then, we have helped establish protection for a third of our country’s land in parks and reserves, put an end to logging of our native forests and helped bring species such as the kakapo and kokako back from the brink of extinction.
Despite these efforts, some of our native species are still at risk of extinction, and the health of many of our forests, rivers and oceans continues to decline. It is vital to continue to protect them for future generations to experience and enjoy.
They’re uniquely ours. Let's not lose them.
How your bequest can help us save nature
By leaving a gift in your will (or bequest) to Forest & Bird you will be leaving a lasting legacy ensuring that our work protecting New Zealand’s unique wildlife and environments can continue on your behalf, and for future generations.
Forest & Bird is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation and is not government funded. We rely on the generosity of kiwis through donations, subscriptions and bequests to fund our vital work for conservation.
Writing your will
It is important to have a will to ensure that your wishes for your estate, including possessions and investments, are carried out, and to minimise the chances of your wishes being contested.
It is important to firstly consult your solicitor, Guardian Trust or Public Trust office for advice in drawing up your will.
To leave a gift in you will you should clearly state that you wish to leave a bequest to the “Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated” for its general purposes.
Standard wording which you may find helpful
Gift for general purposes
"I give to Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated a the residue of my estate, a percentage of _______% of my estate, a______ share of my estate or the sum of $________ for its general purposes. A receipt given on behalf of the Society will be a complete discharge to my trustees for the gift."
There are several ways to make a gift in your will…
- Residue
You may wish to leave Forest & Bird the remainder of your estate once you have made provision for your family and friends, then leave the remainder (the residue) or a percentage of it to the Society.
- Percentage or Fraction
You may wish to leave a percentage or fraction of your estate to the Society.
- Specified Sum or Assets
You may prefer to leave a specific amount of money, real estate, shares, bonds, items or nominated gift to the Society.
- Gift of Natural Areas
If you wish to leave a gift of a natural area it is preferable to discuss this with Forest & Bird in advance. To help the Society care for the area gifted, provision should be made under your will for a fund, payable to the Society for the ongoing maintenance of the property.
- Or leave a gift in perpetuity to the Forest & Bird Endowment Fund
A gift to the Forest & Bird Endowment Fund is a gift that keeps on giving. Money held in the fund is invested as capital and left to build each year forever (in perpetuity).
The Society is able to use a portion of the generated interest yearly to fund its daily conservation work which means that the Society can continue to secure its future.
To leave a gift in your will in perpetuity you should clearly state to your solicitor that you wish to leave a bequest to the “Forest & Bird Endowment Fund”. Your will is prepared at no cost to you!
If you choose to leave a gift in you will to Forest & Bird, please notify the Society and we will agree to meet reasonable legal costs involved with the preparation of your will.
For further information please contact:
The Senior Fundraiser
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
PO Box 631, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone +64-4-801-2212
Fax +64-4 385-7373
email: k.welford@forestandbird.org.nz