Welcome to Adoption Option Trust

Pregnant and unsure?

If you are pregnant and don't know whether you can raise your child, read on to find out how adoption could work for you.

Did you know?

• You can choose the adoptive parents if you place your baby for adoption

• You can stay in contact with your child as they grow by choosing an 'open adoption'

• A Birthmothers Support Network exists to support you through an adoption

Why would a woman place her child for adoption?

Courtney, aged 14, got pregnant at a music festival. A family friend, a youth worker, had seen a presentation about the Adoption Option Trust and he gave Courtney’s mum the website address. Her mum emailed the Trust and a Trustee called and organised to post out the DVD. The Trustee made regular phone calls offering a listening ear throughout the pregnancy and the adoption process. Courtney has an open adoption and is now back and doing well at school.

Kelly, aged 19, was about to start her first year of Varsity studies when she was raped. She was devastated to discover she was pregnant but felt it would be a double tragedy to have an abortion. She decided to place her baby for adoption and her mum contacted the Adoption Option Trust for advice on the process. The Trust linked Kelly into the Birth Mum Support Network who texted and called her regularly throughout the pregnancy and the adoption process The Adoption Option Trust also kept in contact via telephone calls and emails. Kelly followed through with her plan for an open adoption. She intends to resume her studies shortly.

*Names have been changed but these are true stories.

Every unplanned pregnancy is different. You will have your own reasons for looking at adoption. Go to the information for pregnant women at the top of the page to find out how adoption works in New Zealand today.

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.

Video

To view the video click here

Latest News

The latest Adoption Option Newsletter (April 2010) 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.