PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT (UPPER SOUTH ISLAND) v THE NEW ZEALAND GUARDIAN TRUST COMPANY LIMITED [2016] NZCA 556

PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT (UPPER SOUTH ISLAND) v THE NEW ZEALAND GUARDIAN TRUST COMPANY LIMITED [2016] NZCA 556

The Court held the Green Gables gift did not lapse because clause 5(b) of the will manifested a general charitable intention to benefit the elderly in the Nelson region; accordingly s32 variation was available and the trust was varied to direct income to Presbyterian Support for that purpose. The accumulation clause...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2016] NZCA 556
Parties
Appellant: Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island); Respondent: The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Limited; Intervener: Attorney-General
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
New Zealand
Judgment Date
29 November 2016
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeal CA244/2015 allowed in part; CA72/2016 dismissed except for amendment to include Presbyterian Support in accumulation clause.
Legal Topics
Lapse of Charitable Gift, Cy Pres Variation Under Charitable Trusts Act S32, Accumulation of Income, General Charitable Intention, Variation of Charitable Trusts
Charity Law Trusts and Trustees Wills and Estates Perpetuities Law Lapse of Charitable Gift Cy Pres Variation Under Charitable Trusts Act S32 Accumulation of Income General Charitable Intention +1 more

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Parties

Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island)

Appellant

The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Limited

Respondent

Attorney-General

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

  1. 1 Whether gift to Green Gables Trust Board had initially failed/lapsed
  2. 2 Whether testatrix manifested a general or paramount charitable intention
  3. 3 Whether terms of the charitable gift should be varied under s32 Charitable Trusts Act 1957

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held the Green Gables gift did not lapse because clause 5(b) of the will manifested a general charitable intention to benefit the elderly in the Nelson region; accordingly s32 variation was available and the trust was varied to direct income to Presbyterian Support for that purpose. The accumulation clause was amended to limit accumulation to 80 years (to comply with the Perpetuities Act) but the capital was not to be distributed at the end of that period; trustees may retain income administratively and invest prudently to maintain real capital value, and s32 was not engaged for the accumulation issue.

Court Disposition

Appeal CA244/2015 allowed in part; CA72/2016 dismissed except for amendment to include Presbyterian Support in accumulation clause.

Orders

  • Declare that the gift created by clause 5(b)(iii)(3) of the Will constitutes a valid charitable trust.
  • Declare that the gift created by clause 5(b)(iii)(3) of the Will has not lapsed.