Changes to adoption legislation an important step in safeguarding children

The temporary law change announced today to halt some international adoptions is being welcomed by Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad.

“I am pleased that the Government is taking this important step to protect the rights and wellbeing of children, because no child should be abused, neglected or exploited. This is a good example of action being taken to safeguard against serious children’s rights violations, and I want to acknowledge the cross-agency work that has occurred to prioritise children and their rights,” says Dr Achmad.

“It is well known that some children have been experiencing significant harm – including sexual and physical abuse – in New Zealand after they have been internationally adopted under section 17 of the Adoption Act 1955. This legislative shift to ensure that children in these situations are protected from harm has been some time coming, and in my view, these measures are an appropriate and necessary move by the Government from a children’s rights perspective.

“We are talking about preventable harm to children, and I believe that this step of temporary legislative amendment will have an effect of helping to prevent that harm.

“In any matters involving the movement of children across borders, there are vulnerabilities for children which must be safeguarded against. This move today shows that the Government has recognised that harm has been occurring for some of these children being adopted under section 17, and that any further harm must be prevented.

“I note that the law change is temporary in effect, and that further work has been signalled by Minister McKee. In my view, it will be crucial for that work to take a children’s rights approach, and for the New Zealand government to continue working closely with other nations – especially in the Pacific region, such as Samoa – to collectively strengthen safeguards for children in international adoption, so that all harm to children is prevented in this context.”

ends

Media contact:

Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad is unavailable for interview today (16/09/2025) due to illness, but if you would like to interview her at a later date, please contact:

Melissa Wastney
029 909 2715