SPCA branch wins woman's $1m bequest

Tauranga SPCA has won its fight to keep a $1 million bequest left by an elderly widow.

The branch has been embroiled in a dispute with its national office for more than a year over the control of 88-year-old Betty Napier's bequest.

The funds were finally handed over to the Tauranga and Waihi branches last week -- after being held by the national office since Mrs Napier died on January 5 last year.

"I feel rapt that we will now see the tangible results of the money," Tauranga branch chairman Tony Marshall told the Bay of Plenty Times today.

It planned to spend the money expanding its operation.

"I've been amazed at the support people have given the local branch over this matter. It's given the branch a lot of publicity and now we hope it will turn to the positive."

Mrs Napier's bequest was the largest ever given to the organisation and she stipulated in her will that the money be spent in the Western Bay.

SPCA chief executive Robyn McDonald previously said she wanted to see the money spent on a project rather than on day-to-day running costs of the Western Bay branches, and that the money was left to the national body for the benefit of Western Bay animals.

But following a meeting between Tauranga officials and national president Peter Mason it was decided that the money be spent locally.

- NZPA