Adoption
Adoption information
Information about birth parents
Adult Adoption Information Act 1985, ss 3–6, 11
If you were adopted under a closed adoption and you want to know who your birth parents are, you will need your original birth certificate. You need to apply in writing to the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for your original birth certificate, and the Registrar-General has to give it to you.
If you were adopted before 1 March 1986 it’s possible for your birth parents to at any time “endorse” the birth certificate so that you can’t see their details. This endorsement can last for 10 years, and can be renewed.
Your doctor can apply to see medical information about your birth parents, whether or not there is an endorsement. This is done through a social worker. The doctor should not find out the identity of the parent.
Information about adopted child
Adult Adoption Information Act 1985, ss 7, 8
A birth parent can apply to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) for information about the child they adopted out. MSD will try to contact the adopted person and won’t communicate the adopted person’s details to their birth parents unless the adopted person agrees to this.
Once an adopted person is 19 or older they can “endorse” their original birth certificate to say that they don’t want contact with either or both of their birth parents. An endorsement lasts 10 years, and can be renewed.
