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Welcome to Adoption Option Trust
Adoption in New Zealand
The number of non-family adoptions (i.e. not step-parents adopting children) has dropped dramatically in the last forty years. For instance in 1968 there were over 2600 non-family adoptions, in 2008 there were 77. At the same time New Zealand has moved from a system of mainly closed adoption (no contact with, or information about, birth family) to mainly open adoption (contact with birth family).
The Adoption Option Trust was launched on June 20th 2007 by a group wanting to improve the awareness of current adoption practice in New Zealand. As part of this it has produced a DVD explaining how adoption happens in New Zealand today. If you would like a copy of the DVD click here.
About this site.
To find out information on adoption click on the box at the top that best describes your interest e.g. pregnant woman. Use the sidebars to access different topics. If you have ideas on how we can improve this site do email us. We would love to hear your ideas.
If you watch the video above you can see what All Black rugby player, Liam Messam, has to say about his experience of adoption. Alternatively you can read about his adoption by clicking here.
Latest News
Help wanted
The Adoption Option Trust has been running for 2 years. We are currently reviewing the website in order to upgrade it. We are targetting the review at women aged 15-25 years. If you have time to help us, could you complete this short survey, by clicking here. We would love replies by the end of July 09. Thanks.
The latest Adoption Option Newsletter (June 2009) is now available. For previous newsletters click here
Tearaway magazine ran a feature on the hit film, Juno and adoption which includes a birth mum's story. You can read it here
To read more about Juno click here.
Tracing your birth parents
This website is not aimed at adopted people tracing their birth parents. If you want more information on this, go to the Child Youth and Family (CYF) website specifically for this by clicking here.
Inter-country adoption
This website is not aimed at inter-country adoption. If you want more information on this, go to the Child Youth and Family website specifically for this by clicking here.
Liam Messam, All Blacks rugby player, is adopted and says why he supports the Adoption Option Trust.
