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Page URL: https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/our-work/adoption
Printed: 07/10/2025
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Adoption

Working with expectant parents

When expectant parents want to discuss adoption

We need to be impartial, provide information and explore options with expectant parents so they can make an informed decision that meets the needs of te tamaiti.

Other options for expectant parents considering adoption

We support expectant parents to make a fully informed decision about adoption by exploring other options and encouraging expectant parents to consider the long-term needs of te tamaiti.

Involving fathers when considering adoption

Te tamaiti benefits from the involvement of their father and their whānau or family when exploring care options and any adoption plan.

Involving whānau or family in the adoption decision

We should make every effort to involve the expectant parents’ whānau or family when adoption is being considered.

What is open adoption

We help expectant parents and adoptive applicants understand how open adoption works and the decisions they need to make.

Making a birth whānau or family history

When expectant parents decide to place their tamaiti for adoption, we should help them and their whānau or family prepare a birth whānau or family history.

Selecting an adoptive whānau or family from profiles

Once expectant parents have settled on a plan to place te tamaiti for adoption, we explore their preferences and criteria for an adoptive whānau or family and provide profiles for them to consider, which meet their criteria.

Preparing for the birth

We help expectant parents considering adoption to understand and prepare for what happens after te tamaiti is born.

Balancing the Adoption Act and the Oranga Tamariki Act

When parents are considering adoption, we need to understand statutory obligations and be able to explain the impact of different legislation to birthparents so we can help uphold the mana of everyone.

Working with adoptive applicants

Helping adoptive applicants prepare a whānau or family profile

We provide expectant parents with profiles prepared by adoptive applicants who match their preferences and their wishes for their tamaiti, and who have been assessed as able to meet the needs of the specific tamaiti.

Assessing and approving caregivers and adoptive applicants

We need to build engagement and trust with people wanting to care for tamariki and support them through assessment and approval.

Facilitating an adoption placement

Informing adoptive applicants of the proposed placement

Once te tamaiti has been born and birthparents have reviewed their adoption plan and want to proceed, we let adoptive applicants know they've been chosen to adopt te tamaiti.

Meeting and making a contact agreement

We encourage birthparents and adoptive applicants to meet after the birth of te tamaiti. We help them create a contact agreement that records their commitment to information sharing and ongoing contact arrangements.

Caring for the newborn tamaiti before adoption is finalised

When te tamaiti is born we encourage the birthmother to stay in hospital as long as she can and to care for te tamaiti before any placement happens.

Registering the birth of te tamaiti

By law, both parents of a tamaiti born in New Zealand must register the birth through Births, Deaths and Marriages within 2 months of te tamaiti being born.

National Health Index

We remind the birthparents or interim caregivers of the newborn tamaiti to pass on their Well Child book and their National Health Index number to the adoptive applicants at placement.

Consenting to adoption

The birthparents have the legal right to consent to the adoption of their tamaiti. They must understand the effects of adoption so that their consent is fully informed and freely given.

Social worker approval for placement of te tamaiti in adoptive home

We provide a social worker placement approval that enables the lawful placement of te tamaiti with the adoptive applicants. We act in the best interests of te tamaiti in the transition from birthparents to the new whānau or family.

The social worker's court report on the adoption application

The adoptive applicants’ solicitor makes the application for an adoption order in the Family Court. Once the application is filed, the court will request a social worker's report.

Intercountry adoption

Facilitating the adoption of a tamaiti from overseas

We help adoptive applicants explore what’s involved in parenting a tamaiti from overseas. We provide information and can facilitate adoption of an unknown non-relative tamaiti from another country if NZ has an intercountry adoption programme with them.

Overseas dossier for intercountry adoptions

We collate the documents required for an intercountry adoption. We send this overseas dossier to the New Zealand Central Authority (NZCA) for validation and sending to the country.

Intercountry adoption Home Study report

We put together the Home Study assessment report to evidence that the applicants are eligible and suited to adopt a tamaiti from overseas. It also helps the overseas officials to match a whānau or family for a particular tamaiti.

Intercountry request for a Child Study report

If te tamaiti or the birth whānau or family is living overseas a Child Study report from their country may be required. We may need to prepare the request for a Child Study report.

The New Zealand Central Authority and accredited adoption agencies under the Hague Convention

An adoption of te tamaiti from overseas countries by New Zealand citizens and permanent residents must comply with New Zealand’s international obligations and the laws of the countries involved within the framework and principles of the Hague Convention.

Approving intercountry adoptive applicants

The New Zealand Central Authority (NZCA) approves intercountry adoptive applicants as eligible and suited to adopt tamariki from overseas. We provide the NZCA with our Home Study assessment report and recommendation to approve the applicants.

Direct adoption applications to the Family Court

Direct adoption applications to the Family Court

People who want to adopt a tamaiti who is known to them can make an adoption application directly to the New Zealand Family Court. When requested by the court, we assess adoptive applicants and provide a social worker’s report.

Intercountry adoption applications to the Family Court

When the adoptive applicants or te tamaiti or rangatahi are located offshore and the court has determined there are exceptional circumstances, the court will request a social work report on the application.

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