Passing the baton – Port Hills Law

by Metros Marketing | September 30, 2026 8:33 am

Some conversations are easy to put off. Succession planning is often one of them, writes Kristy Rusher, director of Port Hills Law.

“I see it regularly with successful family businesses.

The founder has spent decades building something they are proud of, and at 55, with a business operating for 40 years, retirement can still feel like something for another day. There is always another decision to make, another challenge, another year to get through.

Until suddenly, there isn’t. Recently, a client of mine suffered a stroke, bringing into sharp focus questions that had seemed comfortably distant. Who takes over the business? Who has authority to make decisions? What happens to the family trust? And what does an unexpected change like this mean for the next generation?

These are not easy conversations, which is why we are inclined to avoid them. Yet clients tell me they never regret starting the conversation, they only regret not starting it sooner. Good succession planning is about protecting the continuity of what has been built and giving family members clarity about their own futures.

Your lawyer and accountant can work together to put a plan in place, including appropriate Powers of Attorney and ensuring your wills address the ongoing health of your trust, business or company. Just as importantly, that plan should be revisited as circumstances change.

Think of succession planning as an ongoing part of your business plan, not something to be left until one day.

To book a free discovery chat with me, go through the website, call 03 332 1385 or email hello@porthillslaw.co.nz.

Go to porthillslaw.co.nz.

Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/passing-the-baton-port-hills-law/

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