This year for Wills Week (14-20 July 2025), Public Trust is calling on New Zealanders to consider how their will can be a powerful tool to support charitable giving. For many Māori whānau, conversations about death are deeply tapu and often avoided. But as kaumātua, hapū leaders, and legal experts continue to warn, not having a will in place can cause significant distress, confusion, and conflict for whānau left behind-especially when whenua, taonga and whakapapa are at stake. A Matter of Tikanga and Whānau Mana
Creating a will is not just a legal formality-it is a way to uphold tikanga, protect whānau mana, and ensure intergenerational responsibilities are respected. When Māori pass without a valid will (called dying intestate), their estate is divided according to state law-often ignoring Māori customary practices.
This can lead to:
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Disputes between whānau members
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Loss of control over land, assets or taonga
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Whenua Māori being fragmented or sold
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Delays in tangihanga arrangements or burial decisions
Māori legal advocate and estate planner Moana Te Hiwi says,
“Tikanga is about preparing your whānau, not leaving them in the dark. A will lets you express your wishes clearly, so your mokopuna aren’t left to pick up the pieces.”
