The New Zealand Government is reviewing the country's adoption laws to make sure they meet the needs of Aotearoa in 2021 and beyond.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s main adoption law, the Adoption Act 1955, is now over 65 years old and no longer accurately reflects New Zealand society, modern adoption practices, and does not place children’s rights at its centre. There have been calls to reform the law for a long time.
The New Zealand Government is reviewing the country's adoption laws to make sure they meet the needs of Aotearoa in 2021 and beyond.
This review presents an opportunity to create a new system that provides strong safeguards for protecting the rights, best interests and welfare of children, and upholds our international human rights obligations.
The Ministry of Justice has recently released documents, which describe existing arrangements and views expressed on the topic in the past.
It wants to hear from people about what think adoption law should look like and how it can better reflect modern New Zealand.
Have your say by reviewing the Discussion Document and answering questions in an online survey which are relevant to you and your aiga/whānau.
The Discussion Document covers six key issue areas, including what is adoption and who is involved, cultural aspects of adoption (including whāngai), how the adoption process works in Aotearoa New Zealand, the impacts of adoption and the adoption process where a child is born by surrogacy.
The date for submissions and completed online surveys is 5pm on August 31. A second round of consultation will be undertaken in mid-2022 to report back on feedback and seek the public’s views on the Government’s proposals for reform.