Leave a legacy - Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue

How do you want to be remembered?

You have the power to determine your own legacy. You also have the power to save lives.

By leaving a gift in your will to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, your generosity will save lives beyond your own lifetime.

Every gift, however large or small, makes a life-saving difference.

Our donors play a vital role in keeping our rescue helicopter service in the air, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust is a highly respected charity, dedicated to the Canterbury West Coast region. Every year, we face significant funding challenges as we strive to ensure our rescue helicopter service is world class. With the government providing only partial funding of the service, we are reliant on the generosity of our community to ensure that when emergencies strike, the rescue helicopter is there.

By leaving a gift in your will, you can help us save lives – because when lives are on the line, every second counts.

Request a copy of our legacy giving brochure below.

How do you leave a gift in your will? See our frequently asked questions.

Find out about our free online will service

The legacy of Digby and Jan

Digby is enjoying his retirement just how he planned it – almost.

“The only thing is that Jan isn’t travelling the world with me,” Digby says.

Digby Gemmell was married to Jan for 53 years. She died 3 years ago.

For years Digby and Jan donated to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. After Jan’s passing, Digby updated his will, leaving bequests to three charities that meant something to him and Jan. The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust is one of them.

Digby says the process of putting a bequest into his will was simple. And while it’s Digby’s wishes that will be honoured, it’s not just his legacy. It’s the legacy belonging to him and Jan.

“It’s no use to you when you’re gone. If you can, give it to an organisation like the Air Rescue Trust that can use it for good.”

Our promise to you

We understand that those close to you come first

We will always respect your privacy and promise that anything you discuss with us will be held in confidence.

A meaningful and appropriate purpose

Your gift will be only used for providing a rescue helicopter service in the Canterbury West Coast region.

We understand that circumstances and priorities change

You have the freedom to change your mind whenever you deem it necessary.

A deeply personal and emotional decision

If you prefer anonymity, simply inform us, and your identity will be kept confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I leave a gift in my will?

The process of leaving a gift in your will is simple. You will need to speak with a legal advisor, who will either add the Trust as a charitable beneficiary in a bequest clause in your will or create a codicil (an addition or amendment to your existing will). The wording below will help your legal advisor prepare a codicil to reflect the changes you wish to make. The same wording can be incorporated into your bequest clause if you are writing a will for the first time: “I give the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust (the Charity) the sum of $……. (or a percentage, or the residue of my Estate, or a description of the property or asset given) for the general purposes (or a stipulated purpose) of the Charity and declare that the receipt of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust shall be sufficient discharge for my Trustee.” You will need to reference the full name of our charity “Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust” and our NZ Registered Charity Number “CC23893”.

Do I have to tell the Trust about my intentions?

While you do not need to tell us if you are leaving a gift to the Trust in your will, we would love to be able to thank you appropriately. It also provides us an opportunity to plan for the future and, more importantly, to best understand how you would like your gift to be recognised and your generosity acknowledged. When you notify us that we have been remembered in your will, you automatically become a member of our recognition club – a group of like-minded supporters who we keep informed of news about the rescue helicopter service and we invite to events throughout the year. We realise that leaving a gift in your will is a deeply personal decision. Any details that you make available to us are treated in the strictest confidence. Equally, if you would like your donation to be anonymous, we will respect your wishes.

What can I leave to the Trust?

The majority of our donors choose to leave a sum of money however property, insurances, investment and other assets can also be gifted.

What is a residual gift?

A residual gift is a when a person gifts a percentage (or share) of their estate. The advantage of leaving a percentage of your estate is that it will only ever be the portion of the whole that you are comfortable giving. It also means the value of your gift will not erode over time – meaning it will remain as valuable a gift as it was when you first pledged it.

Is an online will sufficient or do I need to see a lawyer to write a will?

You can write your will online. If you choose to do this, we recommend using a service which complies with New Zealand law and that you follow all guidelines to ensure your will is properly signed and witnessed. We’ve partnered with Gathered Here, Australia’s most-trusted end-of-life services site, to offer our supporters a free online will service. You can read more about that on this webpage.

Write your will for FREE in just 10 minutes

One of the most impactful ways you can support the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust is by pledging a gift in your will. It won’t cost anything during your lifetime, but it will help ensure the service can continue to save lives into the future.

We’ve partnered with Gathered Here, Australia’s most-trusted end-of-life services site, to offer our supporters a free online will.

Learn more about writing a FREE will

Request a copy of our legacy giving brochure

Get in touch

If you are considering leaving a gift in your will, we would love the opportunity to meet with you, share our vision and talk through the various ways you can support the Trust. For a no-obligation chat, or if you have any questions, please contact: