Finding your birth parents
If you were born in NZ and you're adopted, once you turn 20 you can request your original birth certificate, and any information about your adoption records held by Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.
Getting your original birth certificate
Your original birth certificate may include the details of both your birth mother and birth father.
Complete a form and send it to the address listed in the form:
Request for pre-adoptive New Zealand birth certificate form BDM451 (PDF 850KB)
Request for pre-adoptive New Zealand birth certificate form BDM451 accessible alternative (TXT 12KB)
Cost
It costs $15.30 to order a copy of your original birth certificate.
Standard delivery within New Zealand is free. Courier and overseas delivery fees are charged in New Zealand dollars and range from NZD$5 to NZD$30.
Records at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
You can ask Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children for any information they have about your adoption.
To do this, contact an adoption social worker and give them a copy of your original birth certificate. They’ll find your adoption records and give you any details recorded at the time of your placement.
Freephone: 0508 326 459
Email: webadoption@ot.govt.nz
More information
Visit the Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children website for information about finding your birth parents:
Finding your birth family if you're adopted
If you were born using donor sperm or a donor egg, the identity of your donor may be recorded in the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Register.
Finding a child or parent on the sperm and egg donor register
Utility links and page information
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