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About Adoption
What does adoption mean?
Sometimes a parent agrees to his or her child being brought up by another couple, or by relatives. By an adoption order the adopting couple become the child’s legal parents and the legal relationship between the child and their natural parents is ended, unless the child was adopted outside New Zealand. In that case, the legal relationship between the child and their natural parents continues if the laws in the child’s birth country say it should. However, the New Zealand couple can ask the Family Court to order that the legal relationship should end. Adoption does not change the child’s race. Any decision the court makes should be in the best interests of the child.
What is the earliest time that a baby could be given for adoption?
10 DAYS - An application for adoption cannot be made until a child is 10 days old.
UNDER 14
Am I a New Zealand citizen if I have been adopted by a New Zealander?
Yes. If you are under the age 14 at the time of the adoption you automatically become a New Zealand citizen. Above this age you will have to apply for citizenship, unless you were adopted under the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (which applies to intercountry adoptions). (ss3(2), 8, 9(1)(a) Citizenship Act 1977; Schedule to Adoption (intercountry) Act 1997)
UNDER 15
Can I be placed with a family with a view to being adopted?
If you are under 15 you can only be placed in a home with the possibility of adoption if the arrangement has been approved by Child Youth and Family Services or the court. (s6(1) Adoption Act 1955)
AGE 19
I am adopted. Can I refuse to have contact with my birth parents/caregivers?
At 19 you can lodge a request with the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths (phone 0800-22-52-52, www.bdm.govt.nz) stating that you do not want contact. The Registrar will place a veto on information about you being given out and this lasts for ten years and can be renewed. Your birth parents can still try to trace you separately and may seek contact.
(s7 Adult Adoption Information Act 1985)
AGE 20
When am I too old to be adopted?
After you turn 20 you cannot be adopted unless an interim order was made before you turned 20.
(s2 Adoption Act 1955)
Can I adopt a relative of mine?
Yes, at the age of 20 you are able to adopt a child who is a relative of yours. You cannot normally adopt a non-relative until you are 25. You must also be at least 20 years older than the child. If you are making a joint application then only one of you has to fulfill these conditions or be a natural parent of the child.
(s4(1) & 7 Adoption Act 1955)
Can I trace my natural parents?
Yes, at age 20 you can apply to the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths (phone 0800-22-52-52, www.bdm.govt.nz) for your original Birth Certi. cate showing the name and address of your birth mother and maybe your birth father too. However, a birth parent may place a veto to stop information on the Registrar’s . les being given to you. These vetos can be removed at any time and if you were adopted after 1 March 1986 there can be no veto on your birth certi. cate. (ss3, 4, 5 & 6 Adult Adoption Information Act 1985)
AT ANY AGE
What say do I have if I am to be adopted?
In deciding whether to make an adoption order the Family Court Judge must give consideration to your wishes, taking into account your age and understanding. A Social Worker should speak to you and find out how you feel about the proposed adoption. The court must ensure that its decision is in your best interests.
Sometimes a parent agrees to his or her child being brought up by another couple, or by relatives. By an adoption order the adopting couple become the child’s legal parents and the legal relationship between the child and their natural parents is ended, unless the child was adopted outside New Zealand. In that case, the legal relationship between the child and their natural parents continues if the laws in the child’s birth country say it should. However, the New Zealand couple can ask the Family Court to order that the legal relationship should end. Adoption does not change the child’s race. Any decision the court makes should be in the best interests of the child.
What is the earliest time that a baby could be given for adoption?
10 DAYS - An application for adoption cannot be made until a child is 10 days old.
UNDER 14
Am I a New Zealand citizen if I have been adopted by a New Zealander?
Yes. If you are under the age 14 at the time of the adoption you automatically become a New Zealand citizen. Above this age you will have to apply for citizenship, unless you were adopted under the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (which applies to intercountry adoptions). (ss3(2), 8, 9(1)(a) Citizenship Act 1977; Schedule to Adoption (intercountry) Act 1997)
UNDER 15
Can I be placed with a family with a view to being adopted?
If you are under 15 you can only be placed in a home with the possibility of adoption if the arrangement has been approved by Child Youth and Family Services or the court. (s6(1) Adoption Act 1955)
AGE 19
I am adopted. Can I refuse to have contact with my birth parents/caregivers?
At 19 you can lodge a request with the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths (phone 0800-22-52-52, www.bdm.govt.nz) stating that you do not want contact. The Registrar will place a veto on information about you being given out and this lasts for ten years and can be renewed. Your birth parents can still try to trace you separately and may seek contact.
(s7 Adult Adoption Information Act 1985)
AGE 20
When am I too old to be adopted?
After you turn 20 you cannot be adopted unless an interim order was made before you turned 20.
(s2 Adoption Act 1955)
Can I adopt a relative of mine?
Yes, at the age of 20 you are able to adopt a child who is a relative of yours. You cannot normally adopt a non-relative until you are 25. You must also be at least 20 years older than the child. If you are making a joint application then only one of you has to fulfill these conditions or be a natural parent of the child.
(s4(1) & 7 Adoption Act 1955)
Can I trace my natural parents?
Yes, at age 20 you can apply to the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths (phone 0800-22-52-52, www.bdm.govt.nz) for your original Birth Certi. cate showing the name and address of your birth mother and maybe your birth father too. However, a birth parent may place a veto to stop information on the Registrar’s . les being given to you. These vetos can be removed at any time and if you were adopted after 1 March 1986 there can be no veto on your birth certi. cate. (ss3, 4, 5 & 6 Adult Adoption Information Act 1985)
AT ANY AGE
What say do I have if I am to be adopted?
In deciding whether to make an adoption order the Family Court Judge must give consideration to your wishes, taking into account your age and understanding. A Social Worker should speak to you and find out how you feel about the proposed adoption. The court must ensure that its decision is in your best interests.
YouthLaw |
Latest page update: made by YouthLaw
, Dec 14 2010, 9:57 PM EST
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Keyword tags:
adoption
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| Anonymous | Adoption | 1 | Aug 4 2011, 9:07 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||
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Thread started: May 22 2011, 11:10 PM EDT
Watch
Sir/Mam,
My name is Mohammed Nadeem Ahmed and citizen of india. i came to know through this website "http://www.amillionlives.com/new-zealand-citizenship-getting-the-rights-to-be-a-kiwi.html ", that Those getting adopted by a New Zealander will become citizens readily. As i am of the age of 23 can i get adopted? if yes please help me in this. I need Newzealand citizenship so as to apply for pilot post in New Zealand air force. Can you please help me in getting the citizenship. Thanking You, Sir/Mam. |
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