Welcome to Adoption Option Trust

Latest News

Help wanted. Do you have business contacts? We would love to hear from anyone who could offer a prize for the competition we are running in conjunction with the release of the "Juno" DVD. We also really need a computer to help us with the database for the distribution of the educational materials around the country. If you can help us please contact us by email info@adoptionoption.org.nz. Thanks.

The latest Adoption Option Newsletter (Summer 2008) is now available. For newsletters click here.

Tearaway magazine is running a feature on the hit film, Juno and adoption which includes a birth mum's story. You can read it here

Tearaway Adoption piece March 2008

To read more about Juno click here.

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 2006 there were 87. 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 professional rugby player, Liam Messam, has to say about his experience of adoption. Alternatively you can read about his adoption by clicking 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.