First published 2021, updated May 2023

This literature review was updated in May 2023 to include:

Te Tiriti o Waitangi and 7AA;
Pūao-te-āta-tū and the Mātua Whāngai programme;
perspectives and literature of Māori adoptees who experienced closed adoption;
discussion of the history of adoption legislation in New Zealand and the impact on the lives of Māori adoptees;
a highlight on the practice of whāngai and display how the values from te ao Māori are woven through it.

There are many children in New Zealand raised by people other than their birth parents. This qualitative study and literature review explores the perspectives of children and young people and those who care for them.

This foundational research looks at the experiences of young people in care, adopted or whāngai and explores how the children and young people involved make sense of these situations.

The literature review found that: children who had been in care were able to understand their care history from a young age. However, children currently in care could be confused and poorly informed about their situation; being in care can impact a child’s sense of identity and there can be stigma attached which leads them to hide their situation from their peers; whāngai was important in maintaining links to culture, language, land and history, and supported children to develop a positive sense of identity. (From the website). See also the qualitative study (#7391). Record #7390