When making or updating your will, you have the opportunity to ensure the future of New Zealand’s wildlife by leaving us a bequest. This will cost you nothing now, but it will enable you to play an important part in Zealandia’s future.

Your bequest to Karori Sanctuary Trust, the charitable trust that manages Zealandia, will be a precious gift, ensuring an enduring legacy for generations to come (your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) so they can learn about and enjoy New Zealand’s natural heritage.

So many species once lost to Wellington are now back - kākā, bellbirds, tūī, and kākāriki grace our skies once again! Meanwhile majestic forest giants like rātā, rimu and tōtara are regenerating naturally, creating a sustainable habitat slowly being filled with native birds, fish, frogs, and tuatara. Thousands of students get to see and interact with our wildlife each year.

There is still much to be done, however, in order to achieve our 500-year vision of restoration.

Planting the seeds of our future

There are four different ways you can remember us in your will:

Percentage of your estate

By nominating a percentage of your estate, your donation is more likely to keep pace with inflation and is of the greatest possible value to the Trust.

Specific sum

You can nominate a specific amount in your will, but you may wish to consider reviewing this regularly in light of inflation and changes to the value of your estate.

Residue of your estate

Once your estate is settled, your gifts to family and friends have been taken care of and your expenses covered, you can gift any money left to the Trust.

Gift of property

You can nominate specific property or assets to be donated to the Trust. However, we would like to suggest that you check with us first, to ensure that we are able to accept and use your gift in the way that you would hope.

How to word your bequest

To ensure your wishes are met and your bequest benefits
the Trust as you intended, we suggest that you use wording in your will similar to the following:

“I give, free of all duties, to Karori Sanctuary Trust, Waiapu Road, Wellington, (% of estate, or the residue of my estate, or sum of money, or write description of property or assets, as the case may be) for general purposes, for which the receipt of the Chief Executive Officer or other proper officer of the Trust shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my trustees.”

You should also seek legal advice to ensure that your wishes are correctly recorded in your will.

Kōwhai Club

Karori Sanctuary Trust would like to show our gratitude to all those who choose to contribute to our future with a bequest.

When you have made your bequest we would be delighted to hear from you, so we can make you a member of the Kōwhai Club*. As a member, you will receive a kōwhai seedling, membership pin and invitations to our biennial functions.

*Please be assured Kōwhai Club membership and bequest information is kept completely confidential.

Download a PDF brochure containing the information from this page.

Contact us for more information