24 May 2017

Little choice, little option - forced adoption in New Zealand

From The House , 6:55 pm on 24 May 2017

A Parliamentary committee has been told the state was not responsible for gaining consent from women forced to adopt out their children.

 

In March the Social Services Committee heard from petitioners calling for an inquiry into the “suffering caused by the state-sanctioned practice of forced adoption.”

 

Thousands of unwed mothers were subjected to the practice by churches and charities between the 1950s and the 1980s.

 

Representatives from the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki told the committee the state’s job was to approve the future homes of adopted babies and gaining consent from the birth mother’s was not its responsibility.

 

 

National MPs Hekia Parata (left), Jono Naylor (right), and Parmjeet Parmar listen to the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki give evidence to the Justice and Electoral Committee.

National MPs Hekia Parata (left), Jono Naylor (right), and Parmjeet Parmar listen to the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki give evidence to the Justice and Electoral Committee. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith