NZers hoping to adopt and need information

Hello and welcome. I'm afraid I'm not going to be much us as a NZer based in the UK who has adopted domestically here. When we started out we also were unsure whether to go domestic or international - but the systems are different here so I can't offer much advice. I do know that whatever way you go the end result is sooooo worth the long and sometimes painful process. I wish you and DH all the best and hopefully one of the other ladies based in NZ will be able to give you some pointers. Chelsea

Hi Chelsea,Thanks for replying and congratulations on your adoption. I'm sure it will be well worth it, but it is always good to hear from someone at the end of the process when you are only at the beginning:-) And I just wanted to add one thing that I forgot to ask, to anyone who might reply,that we are particularly interested to hear about the homestudy process as we are just shifting back to New Zealand this month from Japan and will be looking for a place to rent. We are looking for a smallish place until we can get re-established into jobs, etc., but we don't want to make any mistakes and rent a place that might not be approved in a homestudy. Does anyone know of a any rules about this??Am

As all adoptions are handled by Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand, I think your best bet would be to contact them. I have pasted below the webpage [url=http://newzealand.govt.nz/services?treeid=493]Services - Adoption - newzealand.govt.nz[/url] I believe you will need to work with them and through them for both domestic and international adoption. Hope this helps. Apart from a Smile City thread, I have not seen a local adoption forum - I keep looking tho. Probably because we don't use agencies?? Ann

Hi We have been through the process in NZ and were assured that as long as a home was child-safe and adequate, size (as they say) doesn't matter. Our s/w said they would technically accept people into the pool who live in apartments etc (with, for example no outside space) as long as they knew where the local parks etc were. Ultimately, if you are accepted into the pool it is then up to the birth parent/s to decide what kind of home they want their child to be placed in. If your situation changes while you are in the pool you can just update your profile. Good luck in your quest for a baby, adoption statistics are against us as prospective a-parents here in the local pool, but it does happen for some lucky people. Take care and keep posting Lou-b

Hi Loubielou and Kune,Thanks for replying. I was hoping that was the case. We're going to look for the best place we can, but it seems that housing is so expensive right now that we don't really know what we'll end up with. Are you in the pool and waiting? Kune- thanks for the info:-) Just wondering what Smile City is?? I wish you two best of luck and Happy Christmas!Am

Try this link - It should take you to Smile City forums and most of those on the list relate to adoption. [url=http://www.smilecity.co.nz/benefits.asp?go=forum&tpid=99&keyw=adoption]Forum - Community - SmileCity New Zealand[/url] (You might have to cut and paste that addy in your address bar. Hope it helps. Ann

Don't hold your breath for adopting from Russia... CYF suspended homestudies for this in Sept-06 (we have been waiting ever since). If you want a non-european child there are still options, so visit ICANZ (Intercountry Adoptions New Zealand) at [url=http://www.icanz.gen.nz]InterCountry Adoption New Zealand[/url] for more info on the programs available to go overseas. Can be difficult to adopt locally to for a non-relative child & the waiting list are huge, ie. 300 people waiting for every child born. Good luck!!