Sector evidence
Sector body
June 2026
Next review not yet scheduled
New Zealand
Medium confidence
published
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: This record summarises the cited source. It does not establish local availability, individual eligibility, or professional advice.
Short Answer
https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001270 (opens in a new tab) (Choosing and managing an attorney)
Key Points
- •Ordinary vs Enduring Power of Attorney:
- •Ordinary PoA: Ends when the donor loses mental capacity. Good for temporary situations.
- •Enduring PoA (EPA): Continues or takes effect when the donor loses capacity. The only option for planning ahead.
- •When EPA starts:
- •Property EPA: Can start immediately or when the donor loses mental capacity (specified in document)
- •Personal Care & Welfare EPA: Starts only when the donor cannot make their own decisions
Full Summary & Notes
- https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001269 (opens in a new tab) (EPA overview) - https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001270 (opens in a new tab) (Choosing and managing an attorney) - https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001279 (opens in a new tab) (Without an EPA — Court options) The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, independent, and accessible legal information to the public. Their articles on EPAs are written in plain language and cover practical scenarios — including what happens when there is NO EPA, the role of the Family Court, and the income and property thresholds that determine the type of court order. This is especially useful for families who discover too late that no EPA was in place. These three CAB articles cover the full spectrum of enduring powers of attorney in New Zealand: the difference between Ordinary and Enduring Powers of Attorney, when an EPA starts and ends, the role and responsibilities of an attorney, and — critically — what happens if someone loses mental capacity without an EPA in place. The third article explains the Family Court process for appointing a welfare guardian or property manager, including the cost implications and financial thresholds ($40,000 income, $25,000 property value) that determine the court track. - Ordinary vs Enduring Power of Attorney: - Ordinary PoA: Ends when the donor loses mental capacity. Good for temporary situations. - Enduring PoA (EPA): Continues or takes effect when the donor loses capacity. The only option for planning ahead. - When EPA starts: - Property
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Document Details & Metadata
Related Resources
Historical property EPA notes and appointment form, rather than the separate standard explanation; 17 physical pages and no appended donor-witness certificate.
Personal care and welfare EPA package: five pages of notes, seven appointment pages and three witness-certificate pages; current Office for Seniors PDF matches the preserved original.
Property EPA package with five notes pages, fourteen appointment pages and three witness-certificate pages; current official PDF and Word formats have a trust-law reference discrepancy.
The ten-page original carries footer PTEL120 06/21, visually verified as June 2021. Its current [Public Trust download](https://www.publictrust.co.nz/products-and-services/trusts/) has a November 2023 filename and modification date; these are separate version and production clues, not proof of first publication. The [Trusts Act 2019](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2019/38/en/latest.pdf), checked 9 October 2026, supplies the exact duties, disclosure procedures and duration rules.
Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney Simple answers for the big questions Your life Your legacy Take a moment to think about how far you've come.
March 2025 Office for Seniors introductory EPA leaflet and preparation checklist; two physical pages, separate from legal forms and standard explanations.