September is Wills Month.
Holland Beckett
In the Community
Trusts, Asset Protection & Estate Planning
Aug 20 2025
A Will is perhaps the most important piece of paper you can leave behind to support your loved ones. Why do you need a Will, what happens if you pass without a Will, and how best should you prepare your Will for your circumstances?
Download our Wills Month Information Pack.
September is Wills Month.
Holland Beckett take part by offering a free Simple Will, or a 20% discount on a Complex Will, if you leave a gift to charity in your Will this September.
Speak to the Holland Beckett Succession and Estates team about Wills Month and what charity giving options would best suit you.
Contact the team on estates@hobec.co.nz or call our offices on 07 578 2199.
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Downtown Legal – Seminar Series with Downtown Tauranga
We have officially settled into our new office in the heart of Tauranga and, working with Downtown Tauranga, we welcome the city centre community to our ‘Downtown Legal’ Seminar Series.
Across three concise evening sessions, our specialist legal teams will unpack key areas of law that affect almost everyone - whether personally or as a business owner. Designed to be practical, accessible and informative, each free seminar offers the opportunity to hear directly from experienced lawyers, gain clarity on common legal issues and ask questions in a relaxed setting.
All seminars are free and located at Holland Beckett - Level 3, Northern Quarter, 45 The Strand, Tauranga
Drinks and nibbles are provided.
There are three seminars, each covering a differnt area of law - you can attend whichever are of interest to you:
Relationship Property
Wednesday 6 May | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Our family law team will provide an introduction to relationship property - an increasingly important topic as blended families become more common. Topics include:
What is relationship property
What happens in the event of a separation
What you can do to protect your assets
How relationship property is treated on death
Hot tips
Employment Law Update
Wednesday 13 May | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
An update from employment law experts on recent and proposed employment law changes, including:
Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026
Proposed changes to the Holidays Act, and health and safety legislation
An overview of recent case law and the implications for small business
Succession and Estate Planning
Wednesday 20 May – 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Our succession and estates team will outline key estate planning tools that allow you to determine what happens to your estate and ensure that those who matter most are cared for. They will cover:
What happens if you die without a Will
Will fundamentals
Use of trusts, EPOAs and other estate planning tips
To register to attend any of the events, click here: Downtown Legal Seminar Series with Holland Beckett
Holland Beckett Appoints Rebecca Steens as Partner
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.
Why you need a Will now more than ever
In today’s evolving financial and legal landscape, having a valid Will in place has never been more critical for New Zealanders. The absence of a Will can lead to unnecessary delays, stress, and cost for families.
One of the most overlooked reasons to have a Will is KiwiSaver. Many people assume their KiwiSaver balance will automatically pass to their partner or next of kin on death, but that’s not how it works. KiwiSaver funds are held solely in the name of the individual and do not pass by survivorship (think, property held as joint tenants). Instead, they must be dealt with as part of the person’s estate, and if there is no Will, this creates delays and uncertainty in accessing those funds. With the recent Government budget injecting more incentives and support into KiwiSaver, balances are likely to grow significantly over time.
Another relevant factor is the probate threshold. Currently, assets over $15,000 will require a grant from the Court. This threshold is due to increase to $40,000 in the September 2025 to better reflect current asset values. In real terms, the threshold is easily exceeded - especially when you consider KiwiSaver.
Without a Will, for which the Court can grant “probate”, family members must apply for “letters of administration” which can be slower and more complex, particularly when family dynamics are tense.
At the same time, more New Zealanders are choosing to own property as tenants in common rather than joint tenants - especially in blended families or where people wish to protect their children’s inheritance from a new partner. This structure allows each party to leave their share of the property to whomever they choose, provided they have a Will to specify that. In this situation, a Will should complement any Contracting Out Agreement (or “Pre Nup”).
Many family trusts are now being wound up or simplified due to changes in trust law, compliance costs, aging/migrating settlors and international beneficiaries (giving rise to tax implications). As assets come out of a trust and revert to personal ownership, they become part of a person’s estate and must be carefully dealt with by their Will.
Overseas properties, investments and digital assets can be challenging to deal with if someone passes without a Will (or Wills) to reflect what should happen to assets in other countries.
Having a Will is no longer just about passing on the family home - it’s about ensuring some thought is given to the increasing complex assets and arrangements of the modern estate. With the right guidance, a complicated situation can have a clear and manageable solution. The key is to decide what you want to achieve, and get a Will drafted to reflect that.
Holland Beckett’s specialist succession and estates team provide expert advice on succession planning and can help to create a Will that best reflects your individual situation.
This article was first published in the New Zealand Herald and Bay of Plenty Times, July 2025.




