Over 18? Make a quick will, please. Today. Save your mum some grief. (And beat Murphy's Law.)
Guys (especially) - I am fed up with having grief-stricken mothers contact me because their sons died suddenly in tragic circumstances (car crash, suicide, etc) and they want to apply for letters of administration because there's no will.
Firstly, it's more complicated if there's no will.
Secondly, often Mum isn't the statutory heir - it may be the de facto partner that Mum never liked (and whom Mum blames for treating her son badly), or his ex-spouse who never got a dissolution order, or the baby grandchild, or his teenage daughter that he has never met. There may be an argument about whether there was a qualifying de facto relationship, or whether he was really the father of the teenager although he paid child support. No one needs that turmoil, when they are trying to cope with your loss.
Thirdly, it's dumb. You've heard of Murphy's Law? 'What can go wrong, will go wrong.' If you don't have a will, Murphy's Law means you're more likely to die prematurely. If you do have a will, you're less likely to need it, more likely to live to 93. (No, I haven't researched this statistically.)
So, please, do your Mum a favour, and make a will. Even if you don't make her the beneficiary, give her some certainty.
Do it now, do it tonight, write something simple on a piece of paper and sign it in front of 2 adult witnesses who aren't mentioned in the will. Show the witnesses' full names, occupations, and a phone number or email address for each of them.
'This is my will. I give everything I own to my parents, or the survivor of them if one dies before me. I appoint my friend Joe Bloggs as my executor.' Add the date. Include a statement next to or above the signatures, 'I signed this in front of these witnesses and they signed it in front of me and each other. We were all present at the same time.'
Preferably appoint someone as executor (the person who has to give effect to the will - it can be your mum, or dad, or a friend, or employer), otherwise someone will have to apply for letters of administration with will annexed.
If you have a partner or a child, change the wording to suit.
Then give the signed will to someone you trust, or put it somewhere safe and tell that person where to find it.
No, you don't need a lawyer. If you need something more complicated, use a lawyer to do a more conventional will, BUT do this in the meantime. Trust me, it's better than nothing.
(Note - the photo is a stock image, posed by model.)
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.8% Yes
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13.8% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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