A gift in your will can support people affected by cancer now and fund world-class research for a cancer-free future.
What legacy will you leave?
There are many ways to leave your mark on the world.
Everything you do, such as your connections with your family/whānau and friends, your work, sporting or community activities, all contribute to memories of you.
Another way is to leave a planned gift to the Cancer Society in your will.
By doing so, your kindness will live on, improving lives long after you have gone. When you support us, you become a partner in helping to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer affecting our families and our communities.
A gift in your will to the Cancer Society:
- you will change lives for the better by ensuring those going through cancer receive compassionate care and support
- you will fund world-class cancer research which helps people live better and longer with cancer
- you will help reduce preventable cancer through our health awareness work in the community
Get in touch about leaving a gift in your will
How will my gift support Cancer Society?
A gift in your will means that no one has to face cancer alone.
Every year over 25,000 New Zealanders hear the news they have cancer. Cancer remains the leading cause of death in New Zealand.
Cancer Society is the leading non-government organisation dedicated to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care - free of charge.
Our support services, prevention programmes, and ground-breaking cancer research are only possible because of New Zealanders like Paul and Tanya.
Paul's support for our work
Paul’s beloved wife of 43 years, Myra, passed away from lung cancer. He is so thankful for the dedicated support and care Myra received in the last stage of her battle with cancer. Paul saw many young people having treatment at the same time as Myra and hopes his contribution can help families that need it.
Tanya's support for our work
Tanya helped nurse her beloved mum through an incredibly tough oral cancer journey. This experience, and ultimately losing her mum to cancer, helped grow Tanya’s passion for Cancer Society’s work, and made leaving a gift in her will a decision that she knows will make a powerful difference.
We are committed to honouring your gift by giving hope and care to those with cancer today and reducing cancer for tomorrow’s generation.
How to leave a gift in your will
Our wills are the ultimate statement of the people and causes that have mattered to us most. Deciding how to apportion our wills is, therefore, one of the hardest decisions of our lives.
Including a gift to Cancer Society in your will is straightforward; in many cases, you don’t need to make a whole new will, follow these four easy steps:
Discuss:
If, after taking care of your loved ones, you decide to include a gift to the Cancer Society in your will, we encourage you to discuss your plans with family, so they understand your wishes.
Decide:
The best way to help those with cancer is to give a share of your estate after your other commitments have been met. Because your estate's value fluctuates, we recommend that you apportion your estate in percentages so that your estate is divided as you intended.
Plan:
As a will is a legal document we suggest you seek advice from a solicitor to ensure that your wishes are clear.
It is usually straightforward to include a charitable gift in your will. If you have an existing will you may add a ‘codicil’ that provides an update of your wishes.
Learn more about a gift in your will for your community
Here is an example of the words you can use:
I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Auckland Northland Division Incorporated __% of my estate (or the sum of $....) free of all duties to be applied to Research/ General Purposes(select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor.
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Anita Haylock on 09 930 7172 or email bequests@akcansoc.org.nz
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact 07 838 2027 or email giving@cancersociety.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Central Districts Division Incorporated ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Gisborne and East Coast Centre Trust ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Taranaki Centre Incorporated ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Whanganui-Rangitikei-Waimarino Centre Incorporated ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Hawke’s Bay Centre Incorporated ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Manawatu Centre Incorporated ____% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or the residue of my estate or description of assets or property) free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor.
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact Adam Naylor on 06 356 4011 or email adam.naylor@cancercd.org.nz.
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I bequeath The Cancer Society Wairarapa (CC23905), the sum of _____ dollars [or a percentage of your residual estate], to be applied by the Cancer Society in such a manner as its Directors may determine [or for the purposes of ____________ ]. I direct that a receipt from the Cancer Society shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack, please contact the centre on (06) 378 8039 or waisupport@cancersoc.org.nz
Here is an example of the words you can use:
I bequeath The Cancer Society Wellington (CC10067), the whole of my estate or { A specific sum} or { a percentage of the residual estate} or {specified items}, free of all duties and deductions, to be applied for (either) the purposes of the Cancer Society Wellington in such a manner as its Directors may determine (or) the following purpose _________. I direct that a receipt from the Cancer Society Wellington shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors.
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack to be posted to you, please contact Judith Langridge on 04 260 4569 or email bequest@cancersoc.org.nz
Download your Will Information Guide
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I bequeath The Cancer Society Nelson (CC33976), the sum of _____ dollars [or a percentage of your residual estate], to be applied by the Cancer Society in such a manner as its Directors may determine [or for the purposes of ____________ ]. I direct that a receipt from the Cancer Society shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack to be posted to you, please contact the centre on (03) 539 1137 or email info@cancernelson.org.nz
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I bequeath The Cancer Society Marlborough (CC28545), the sum of _____ dollars [or a percentage of your residual estate], to be applied by the Cancer Society in such a manner as its Directors may determine [or for the purposes of ____________ ]. I direct that a receipt from the Cancer Society shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors."
To speak to someone in confidence about a gift in your will or for a bequest information pack to be posted to you, please contact the centre on (03) 579 4379 or email marlborough@cancersoc.org.nz
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to the Cancer Society of New Zealand Canterbury-West Coast Division Incorporated ____% of my estate free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
Here is an example of the words you can use:
"I give and bequeath to Cancer Society of New Zealand Otago and Southland Division Incorporated ____% of my estate free of all duties to be applied to Research/General Purposes (select one). The official receipt of an authorised officer of the organisation shall be a complete and sufficient discharge for the Executor."
Tell us:
We would love to be able to thank you for remembering Cancer Society in your will. If you contact us we will be able to keep you up to date with what's happening at Cancer Society.
We recognise that the exact content of your will is private - so won't ask for specific details, any information you share with us will be held in complete confidence.
Supporters like you make our work possible
Fran Miller
Fran Miller left the Cancer Society a bequest in her will in recognition of the help and support she received after a brush with a brain tumour. Fran encourages everyone to leave a little in their will so we can keep up this work.
Cancer Society kept me going when I was really at a low point, (after diagnosis with a malignant brain tumour) and gave me the encouragement I needed to realise I could fight my way out of this.
Fran Miller, Bequest Donor
Tanja and John Schipper
Tanja and John Schipper explain that leaving a bequest in their wills to Cancer Society was an easy decision for them both to make.
We’re right behind all they do. I hope we can help them keep up their good work and find some sort of cure in the near future.
Tanja & John, Bequest Donors
