September 17, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Long awaited Increase to Threshold for Probate

The threshold for requiring Probate or Letters of Administration will rise from $15,000 to $40,000 from 24 September 2025. This long-awaited update reflects the reality of today’s estate values and will provide welcome relief for many families navigating the estate process. The current $15,000 threshold was set back in 2009 and much has changed. A threshold of $15,000 was an unrealistic amount for estates given rising KiwiSaver balances which are now a common and significant part of people’s estates, even modest...

September 15, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Protecting Your Assets Upon Your Death: The Importance of an Updated Will

Written by Damandeep Sadhra  Originally published in The Profit  - September 2025 A will is a legal document that sets out who will inherit your property after your death. If you die without one (known as dying intestate), and you have more than $15,000 in assets your family must apply to the High Court to access your estate (on 24 September 2025 this will increase to $40,000). The law – not you – decides who receives what. It’s a process that can be expensive,...

June 10, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

What Landowners Need to Know About the Future of Water in Hawke’s Bay: Plan Change 9

Written by Kelly Henderson Originally published in The Profit. Water is central to Hawke’s Bay’s agricultural and economic success. It sustains crops, reinforces land values and drives investment in one of the New Zealand’s most productive agricultural regions. However, a far-reaching new policy—Plan Change 9 (PC9)—is set to dramatically reshape water rights across the TANK catchments (Tutaekuri, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro, and Karamu). PC9 changes the way water is valued, managed and accessed and its impacts will be immediate and significant for landowners, agribusinesses...