1962 Adoptions Amendment Act.
Required all adoptions to go through a Magistrates Court rather than the Maori Land Court. The Maori Land Court option that had more open records meaning the adopted child could in later life know their original parents, hapu and whakapapa. In 1962 Adopted Maori Children were prevented from being adopted by relatives with a preference for young pakeha couples to adopt Maori Babies as part of the assimilation process. Do you know of any Ngati Pahauwera whanau members that were adopted after 1962 that we can show were affected by this assimilation process? If you can help please contact the office (06) 837 6774 or email npdtt@xtra.co.nz.
