Full Breakdown
Settlement Reached in Givealittle Fund Dispute After Kane Watson’s Death
5/3/2026, 9:54:39 AM
Tragic Origin and Fundraising Launch
On the day father Kane Watson died after a sand dune collapsed at Muriwai Beach, a friend named Tayler opened a Givealittle page to cover funeral expenses and listed Watson’s partner, Jasmine Cooke, as a beneficiary with an initial $10,000 target.
Legal Conflict Over Fund Allocation
Disagreements arose after page updates removed Cooke as a beneficiary and proposed a contract requiring joint signatories for withdrawals. Cooke declined to sign, sought a High Court freezing order, and the case became the first fundraiser to be frozen by court order.
Timeline of Key Developments
The page launched; updates on 8 September and 18 September altered beneficiaries and set aside $15,000 for the children. Cooke missed a contract deadline; on 10 October Justice James MacGillivray rejected a suppression order. The 31 March hearing produced a confidential settlement in early April.
Fundraising Totals and Allocation Plans
The Givealittle appeal attracted 835 donors and raised over $30,000, exceeding the $10,000 goal. After the goal was met, the description was revised to allocate funds for funeral costs, lock $10,000 for the children’s future, and set aside $15,000 for the children when they become adults.
Official Statements and Judicial Remarks
Associate Judge Liz Gellert said the resolution was a positive result in a delicate case and urged the parties to move forward. Justice James MacGillivray emphasized that public interest outweighed privacy concerns, affirming the need for open justice. Givealittle declined comment, citing confidentiality, while Tayler noted that donor intent guided the distribution.
Criticism and Opposition
Jasmine Cooke opposed the contract that required joint signatories, arguing it excluded support for her children from a previous relationship. Her refusal prompted the freezing order, highlighting tension between donor intent and family expectations.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The settlement’s exact allocation remains confidential, leaving the precise amounts each beneficiary receives unknown. No prior Givealittle fundraiser has faced a High Court freezing order.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an excellent outcome in a matter that was both very sensitive to the parties and uncommercial to pursue by way of litigation. The litigants in person conducted themselves well.” — Associate Judge Liz Gellert
- “In the present case, I am not persuaded that the desire for privacy in relation to this matter outweighs the legitimate public interest in the proceeding. I consider that the principle of open justice should prevail,” — Justice James MacGillivray
- “Donor intent was always at the forefront of our mind, and we knew donors would want to see meaningful support from their donations,” — Tayler, page creator
- “I cried, I didn’t want to go,” — Jasmine Cooke, describing her experience of the court day
What’s Next
The court urged the parties to put the dispute behind them, and no further litigation is expected. Givealittle says its moderation procedures remain unchanged and it will continue hosting fundraisers without policy revisions.
