Shortlisted in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards

Holland Beckett is pleased to announce the promotion of Rebecca Steens to Partner, effective 1 April 2026. Rebecca is a highly regarded succession and estate planning lawyer with more than 12 years’ experience advising clients on trusts, estates, succession planning and asset protection. With a background spanning both litigation and estate planning, Rebecca brings a unique and practical perspective to her work, helping clients navigate complex issues while proactively mitigating the risk of future disputes.  Rebecca has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing Holland Beckett’s specialist Succession, Estates and Trusts practice. Under her leadership, the team has expanded significantly and is now recognised as the Bay of Plenty’s largest specialist succession, trusts and estates team, known for its technical strength and pragmatic, client‑focused advice in an increasingly complex area of law.  Rebecca graduated from the University of Waikato in 2013 with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Communication Studies. She began her legal career at a local firm, before moving to Jersey in the Channel Islands, where she specialised in trust litigation within an international context.  A Tauranga local, Rebecca returned home in late 2019 and joined Holland Beckett shortly thereafter as a Senior Solicitor in the firm’s litigation team, focusing on trust and estate disputes. She was promoted to Associate later that year. In 2021, she transitioned into the estates practice, where her leadership has been instrumental in shaping its growth and reputation.  Rebecca is a member of the Trust Law Association of New Zealand (TLANZ) Trust Law Committee and is a regular presenter to professional audiences, such as TLANZ and Legalwise.  Her elevation to the Partnership recognises Rebecca’s sustained contribution to the firm’s strategic growth, the development of its Succession, Estates and Trusts practice, and her reputation as a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex estate and succession planning matters.  Rebecca’s appointment brings Holland Beckett’s Partnership to 17 Partners, supported by a team of more than 160 staff, including over 70 lawyers. The full-service firm provides legal services to local, national, and international clients from offices across Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatāne, and Taupō. 

Holland Beckett wishes you a Meri Kirihimete, Happy New Year and a safe and sunny summer holiday. Our offices will be closed from 5:00pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen at 8:30am on Tuesday 6 January 2026.

For several years, the Holland Beckett Community Committee has championed acts of service and financial support to give local charities and community groups a hand up. One way we do this is through our Payroll Giving initiative - an easy, stress-free opportunity for our people to give back to the community. How it works Our people can opt in to take part in the payroll giving scheme, contributing a small amount from their regular pay. Holland Beckett\'s Partners generously match these contributions dollar for dollar. Each quarter, the accumulated funds are donated to a chosen cause, determined by nominations and voting by our team. To share the love across the Bay of Plenty, nominations may be limited to Tauranga, Rotorua, or Whakatāne-based organisations in different quarters. The charity with the most votes receives the payroll giving donation - currently just over $2800 each quarter. 2025 Payroll Giving Recipients We are proud to share a little about the wonderful charities and community groups that received our 2025 quarterly donations: Q1 - RRR | Rescue Revive Rehome RRR is a not-for-profit animal rescue organisation dedicated to providing a safe haven for homeless and rescued animals until a responsible, loving home is found. RRR relies on fosters, volunteers, donations and fundraisers to provide a safe home for the many animals that come though their doors. Some RRR dogs have been rehomed with Hobecians, and one of our team regularly fosters dogs needing a safe, comfortable space to recover from surgery or trauma before adoption. RRR - Rescue. Revive. Rehome. Q2 - Te Wāhi Whakaora | Rotorua and District Women\'s Refuge Te Wāhi Whakaora assists women, children, and whānau experiencing family violence in Rotorua and surrounding areas through support, advocacy, education and awareness. Holland Beckett\'s Lucy Vala-Blackmore is on the board of Te Wāhi Whakaora. As a Rotorua local and Family Lawyer, she is proud to give back to the wāhine in her community. Te Wāhi Whakaora Rotorua and District Women’s Refuge Q3 - Whakatāne Kiwi Trust Whakatāne Kiwi Trust works to protect our precious kiwi and other native species in the Whakatāne region - the \'Kiwi Capital of the World™\'. The Trust manages pest control programmes, and volunteers are actively involved in predator trapping, kiwi monitoring, education, public events and fundraising. Holland Beckett is also proud to sponsor the Kiwi Trust and to support solicitor Jayden McNeil in his role as a trustee. Whakatāne Kiwi Trust Q4 - MAMA | Massage after Miscarriage Aotearoa MAMA provide a simple gesture of comfort, care and compassion - restorative massage or facials - for women following a miscarriage or stillbirth. Losing a baby at any stage in pregnancy is heartbreaking and recovery is both a physical and emotional journey. Through generous contributions of services, products, and monetary support (including our payroll giving donations) MAMA provides healing experiences to support grieving mothers in need of solace after loss. Massage After Miscarriage Tauranga We’re proud of our team for embracing our payroll giving initiative and supporting a wide range of organisations that make a real difference in our communities. Their contributions help these groups extend their reach and provide vital support to those who need it most. We also set aside a small portion of the payroll giving funds for community days, where our teams roll up their sleeves and support causes close to their hearts with hard mahi! It might mean buying paint and brushes to refresh a tired playcentre, or native plants to replant waterways and dunes. And at Christmas, any remaining funds in the payroll giving piggy bank are donated to another charity, such as the Tauranga Community Foodbank.