Please note that we have recently updated the location of the chronology of inaction of adoption law reform – and it can now be found here – please update your links if necessary.
NEWS UPDATE
Hot off the press… a new ebook by Anne Else and Maria Haenga-Collins
ADOPTION LAW REFORM and THE ROYAL COMMISSION INQUIRY
Please go here for information
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This website is a place for supporters of adoption legislative reform in New Zealand.
Adoption Action Inc strongly supports the spirit of openness and believes New Zealand adoption legislation should provide a framework based on openness and transparency with the best interests of the child paramount.
We would like to see New Zealand adoption legislation that is consistent with both the Law Commission’s recommendations for legislative reform of the Adoption Act 1955 and the Hague Convention.
The Adoption Act 1955 is an outdated piece of legislation. There have been many attempts to reform the Act and there have been no significant changes since 1985. For previous attempts at updating New Zealand’s adoption legislation please see the chronology of moves to reform.
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Adoption Law Reform (and Surrogacy Law review)
Round II
On 20 June 2022, the Ministry of Justice announced a call for submissions on its second Discussion Document(2).
Now is the time to have your say.
The closing date for submissions is 5:00pm 7 August 2022.
Below is a link to the Ministry of Justice web page outlining their proposed review process and containing further information in their June 2022 Discussion Document(2).
Reform of adoption laws in Aotearoa New Zealand – Ministry of Justice – Citizen Space
During the first round of consultation in 2021 Adoption Action made a submission on the Ministry of Justice Discussion Document(1). There is a link below to Adoption Action’s submission. Appended to our submission are submissions by the Wellington Community Justice Project on (1) Adoption in Aotearoa and (2) Intercountry and Overseas Adoptions.
2021 Adoption Action Submission to Ministry of Justice Discussion Document(1).
Further useful links
Options for creating a new system
Adoption Law Reform: Options for creating a new system | New Zealand Ministry of Justice
How to have your say
Adoption Law Reform: How to have your say | New Zealand Ministry of Justice
Summary of feedback to the June 2021 Discussion Document(1)
Summary-of-feedback-on-Adoption-in-Aotearoa-New-Zealand-Discussion-document.pdf (justice.govt.nz)
Targeted engagement report
Adoption-Law-Reform-Targeted-Engagement-Report.pdf (justice.govt.nz)
Discussion Document(2) – June 2022
A-new-adoption-system-for-Aotearoa-New-Zealand-Discussion-document2.pdf (justice.govt.nz)
Summary Document – June 2022
A-new-adoption-system-for-Aotearoa-New-Zealand-Summary-document.pdf (justice.govt.nz)
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In February 2021 the government announced steps towards adoption law reform (see 2021 Adoption Action AGM Convenor’s Report and the chronology of moves to reform for further information).