This Government omnibus bill establishes an enduring system for international and overseas adoptions, replacing the temporary changes made by the Adoption Amendment Act 2025 (which it repeals). Family Court adoption orders are available where applicants are ordinarily resident in New Zealand (or in exceptional circumstances, including formalising valid international surrogacy arrangements), and an overseas adoption outside the Hague Convention has limited effect for New Zealand citizenship and visas. Designated countries can be added by Order in Council where their regimes provide sufficient safeguards. The bill is before Parliament, having passed its first reading on the voices on 12 May 2026.
This bill establishes an enduring legal framework for international and overseas adoptions, replacing temporary changes made to the Adoption Act 1955 in 2025. Its stated objectives are to support the wellbeing and best interests of adopted people, align New Zealand with its international obligations, and protect the integrity of the immigration and citizenship systems, including limits on the citizenship and immigration effect of adoptions that do not meet Hague Convention safeguards.
Supporters point to past cases where weak safeguards led to serious harm to adopted children and argue that a permanent, standards-based system protects vulnerable children and prevents adoption being used to circumvent immigration rules. Others may weigh the effect on families pursuing legitimate overseas adoptions, and press for the process to remain workable and not unduly slow or costly for prospective adoptive parents.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.