Adult Adoption Information Act 1985

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Adult Adoption Information Act 1985

Public Act
 
1985 No 127
Date of assent
 
13 September 1985
Commencement
 
see section 1
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

An Act to provide for greater access to information relating to adoptions and to the parties to adoptions by adult adopted persons and their birth parents, and for other related matters

 
1 Short Title and commencement

(1)

This Act may be cited as the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985.

(2)

Sections 4 to 6, 8, and 9 shall come into force on 1 September 1986.

(3)

Subject to subsection (2), this Act shall come into force on 1 March 1986.

2 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

adopted person means a person in respect of whom an adoption order has at any time been made; and adopted has a corresponding meaning

adoption order means an adoption order made under the Adoption Act 1955 or any corresponding former enactment; and includes an instrument details of which have been registered under section 21A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1951 or section 25 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995

adoptive parent, in relation to any other person, means a person who has at any time, either alone or pursuant to an application made jointly with a spouse, adopted that other person under an adoption order; but no person shall be an adoptive parent by reason only of—

(a)

having consented to an adoption by a spouse; or

(b)

having become the spouse of an adoptive parent after the adoption concerned

adult as a noun means a person who has attained the age of 20 years; and as an adjective it has a corresponding meaning

approved organisation means an organisation for the time being approved under section 12(1)

approved person means a person for the time being approved under section 12(1); and includes a person whose name is for the time being notified under section 12(2)

birth parent, in relation to any other person, means a person who is that other person’s biological mother or father

chief executive means the chief executive of the Department

Department means the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

identifying information, in relation to any person, means that person’s name or address; and includes any information that is likely to enable any other person to ascertain that person’s name or address

original birth certificate, in relation to any person, means a birth certificate (within the meaning of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995) containing information recorded under that Act or a former Act (within the meaning of that Act) relating to the person’s birth, bearing on its face the words “ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ADULT ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT 1985”; and includes any such certificate from which there have been omitted, in accordance with this Act, any details relating to either or both of the person’s birth parents

Registrar-General means the Registrar-General appointed under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995

social worker means a social worker employed in the Department; and, in relation to any matter undertaken by one social worker, includes any other social worker dealing with that matter.

Section 2 adoption order: amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 2 chief executive: inserted, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 2 Department: substituted, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 2 Department: amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

Section 2 Director-General: repealed, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 2 original birth certificate: substituted, on 1 September 1995, by section 95 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16).

Section 2 original birth certificate: amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 2 Registrar-General: amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 2 social worker: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 2 social worker: amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 2 social worker: amended, on 1 April 1990, by section 36(2) of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

Access to information

3 Birth parent may restrict access to identifying information

(1)

Either birth parent of a person adopted before 1 March 1986 may at any time request the Registrar-General to have the original entry of the birth of that person endorsed to the effect that that person is not to have access to identifying information relating to the person making the request.

(2)

The following provisions shall apply to every request under subsection (1):

(a)

the Registrar-General shall inform the person making that request of the counselling available in the area in which that person lives, from social workers and approved persons and organisations:

(b)

that person shall indicate to the Registrar-General whether or not that person desires counselling:

(c)

if that person indicates that that person desires counselling, the Registrar-General shall take no further action until that person requests the Registrar-General to proceed with the original request:

(d)

if that person—

(i)

indicates that that person does not desire counselling; or

(ii)

under paragraph (c) requests the Registrar-General to proceed with the original request,—

the Registrar-General shall cause the original entry of the birth of the adopted person concerned to be endorsed accordingly, and to be endorsed also with the date on which it was so endorsed.

(3)

The fact that there is upon the original entry of the birth of any person one unexpired endorsement under subsection (2) relating to any person shall not prevent a further endorsement under that subsection relating to that person.

(4)

Subject to subsection (5), every endorsement under subsection (2) shall continue in force until the expiration of 10 years from the date of its making, and shall then expire.

(5)

A birth parent of an adopted person may at any time request the Registrar-General to have removed from the original entry of that person’s birth all endorsements under subsection (2) relating to that parent; and in that case the Registrar-General shall cause that entry to be noted accordingly, and those endorsements shall then expire.

4 Adult adopted person may apply for original birth certificate

(1)

Any adult may make a written application to the Registrar-General for an original birth certificate in relation to the applicant; and in that case the following provisions shall apply:

(a)

where it does not appear from the records of the Registrar-General that the applicant is adopted, the Registrar-General shall so notify the applicant in writing:

(b)

subject to subsection (2), where it appears from the records of the Registrar-General that the applicant was adopted before 1 March 1986, and that—

(i)

details relating to only one of the applicant’s birth parents appear in the original entry of the applicant’s birth, and there is on that entry any unexpired endorsement under section 3(2) relating to that parent; or

(ii)

details relating to both of the applicant’s birth parents appear in the original entry of the applicant’s birth, and there are on that entry unexpired endorsements under section 3(2) relating to each of those parents,—

section 5(1) shall apply to the applicant:

(c)

where it appears from the records of the Registrar-General that the applicant was adopted before 1 March 1986, and that—

(i)

details relating to both of the applicant’s birth parents appear in the original entry of the applicant’s birth, but there are on that entry unexpired endorsements under section 3(2) relating to only one of them; or

(ii)

there are no unexpired endorsements under section 3(2) on that entry,—

section 5(2) shall apply to the applicant:

(d)

where it appears from the records of the Registrar-General that the applicant was adopted after 28 February 1986, section 6 shall apply to the applicant.

(2)

Where—

(a)

there is on the original entry of the birth of an adopted person any unexpired endorsement under section 3(2) relating to a birth parent of that person; and

(b)

the Registrar-General is satisfied that that parent is dead,—

paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) shall apply to any application under that subsection as if that endorsement had expired.

5 Certificates for persons adopted before commencement of Act

(1)

The Registrar-General shall inform every applicant to whom this subsection is applied by section 4(1)(b) of the existence, effect, and date of expiry of the endorsements concerned, and, notwithstanding section 63 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995, shall send the applicant an original birth certificate from which there have been removed all details relating to the applicant’s birth parents, and every reference to any surname registered for the applicant.

(2)

Notwithstanding section 63 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995, but subject to subsection (3), the following provisions shall apply to every application under section 4(1) made by an applicant to whom this subsection is applied by section 4(1)(c):

(a)

the Registrar-General shall notify the applicant in writing,—

(i)

if the applicant lives within New Zealand, of the counselling available in the area in which the applicant lives, from social workers and approved persons and organisations; and

(ii)

that except where the applicant lives outside New Zealand, an original birth certificate will not be given to the applicant until the applicant has received counselling:

(b)

if the applicant notifies the Registrar-General in writing that the applicant desires counselling from a social worker or a specified approved person or organisation, the Registrar-General shall forthwith send an original birth certificate to—

(i)

the appropriate office of the Department; or

(ii)

the approved person or organisation specified by the applicant,—

as the case requires:

(c)

the person or organisation to whom or to which an original birth certificate is sent under paragraph (b) shall release it to the applicant after the applicant has received counselling:

(d)

if it appears to the Registrar-General that the applicant is permanently resident outside New Zealand, the Registrar-General shall send the applicant an original birth certificate and the address of the chief executive.

(3)

There shall be omitted from every original birth certificate sent under subsection (2) all details relating to any birth parent of the applicant concerned if—

(a)

there is on the original entry of the applicant’s birth an unexpired endorsement under section 3(2) relating to that parent; and

(b)

the Registrar-General is not satisfied that that parent is dead.

(4)

There shall be omitted from every original birth certificate sent under subsection (2) every reference to any surname registered for the applicant if—

(a)

there is on the original entry of the applicant’s birth an unexpired endorsement under section 3(2) relating to a parent who has that surname; and

(b)

the Registrar-General is not satisfied that that parent is dead.

Section 5(1): amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 5(1): amended, on 1 September 1995, by section 95 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16).

Section 5(2): amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 5(2)(d): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 5(4): added, on 1 September 1995, by section 95 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16).

6 Certificates for persons adopted after commencement of Act

Notwithstanding section 63 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995, the following provisions shall apply to every application under section 4(1) by an applicant to whom this section is applied by section 4(1)(d):

(a)

the Registrar-General shall notify the applicant in writing—

(i)

of the counselling available in the area in which the applicant lives, from social workers and approved persons and organisations; and

(ii)

that if within 28 days the applicant notifies the Registrar-General in writing that the applicant desires counselling from a social worker or a specified approved person or organisation, an original birth certificate will be sent to the appropriate office of the Department or that person or organisation; and

(iii)

that if the applicant does not desire counselling, or fails within 28 days to inform the Registrar-General that the applicant does desire counselling, an original birth certificate will thereafter be held on the applicant’s behalf:

(b)

if the applicant—

(i)

notifies the Registrar-General in writing that the applicant does not desire counselling; or

(ii)

has not, within the 28 days following the dispatch to the applicant of the notice under paragraph (a), notified the Registrar-General in writing that the applicant desires counselling from a social worker or a specified approved person or organisation,—

the Registrar-General shall forthwith notify the applicant in writing that an original birth certificate is held on the applicant’s behalf:

(c)

if the applicant is notified under paragraph (b) that an original birth certificate is held on the applicant’s behalf, and thereafter notifies the Registrar-General in writing that the applicant wishes it sent to the applicant, the Registrar-General shall send it to the applicant:

(d)

if, within the 28 days following the dispatch to the applicant of the notice under paragraph (a), the applicant has notified the Registrar-General that the applicant desires counselling from a social worker or a specified approved person or organisation, the Registrar-General shall forthwith send an original birth certificate to—

(i)

the appropriate office of the Department; or

(ii)

the approved person or organisation specified by the applicant,—

as the case requires; and the applicant shall be entitled to uplift it at any reasonable time.

Section 6: amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

7 Adopted person may register desire not to have contact with birth parents

(1)

An adopted person who has attained the age of 19 years may at any time request the Registrar-General to have the original entry of that person’s birth endorsed to the effect that that person does not desire any contact with a specified birth parent, or with either of that person’s birth parents.

(2)

The following provisions shall apply to every request under subsection (1):

(a)

the Registrar-General shall inform the person making that request of the counselling available in the area in which that person lives, from social workers and approved persons and organisations:

(b)

that person shall indicate to the Registrar-General whether or not that person desires counselling:

(c)

if that person indicates that that person desires counselling, the Registrar-General shall take no further action until that person requests the Registrar-General to proceed with the original request:

(d)

if that person—

(i)

indicates that that person does not desire counselling; or

(ii)

under paragraph (c) requests the Registrar-General to proceed with the original request—

the Registrar-General shall cause the original entry of that person’s birth to be endorsed accordingly, and to be endorsed also with the date on which it was so endorsed.

(3)

The fact that there is upon the original entry of a person’s birth one unexpired endorsement under subsection (2) relating to a parent shall not prevent a further endorsement under that subsection relating to that parent.

(4)

Subject to subsection (5), every endorsement under subsection (2) shall continue in force until the expiration of 10 years from the date of its making, and shall then expire.

(5)

Any person may at any time request the Registrar-General to have removed from the original entry of that person’s birth any endorsements under subsection (2); and in that case the Registrar-General shall cause that entry to be noted accordingly, and those endorsements shall then expire.

8 Access by birth parents to identifying information

(1)

Any person may make a written application to the chief executive for identifying information relating to an adult adopted person whose birth parent the applicant is.

(2)

Where the chief executive is satisfied that an applicant under subsection (1) is a birth parent of the adult adopted person to whom the information sought relates, the following provisions shall apply:

(a)

where the chief executive is satisfied that the adopted person concerned is dead, the chief executive shall so inform the applicant; and the chief executive may disclose to the applicant such information as the chief executive thinks fit relating to that person, that person’s circumstances at the time of that person’s death, and the circumstances of that person’s death:

(b)

where the chief executive is not satisfied that the adopted person concerned is dead, the chief executive shall enquire of the Registrar-General if there is on the original entry of the birth of that person any unexpired endorsement under section 7(2) relating to the applicant; and in that case the Registrar-General shall inform the chief executive whether or not there is such an entry and, if so, when it (or if more than 1 the most recent of them) will expire:

(c)

where the Registrar-General informs the chief executive that there is such an endorsement on that entry, the chief executive shall give the applicant the information given to the chief executive by the Registrar-General under paragraph (b), and shall inform the applicant of the effect of the endorsement concerned:

(d)

where the Registrar-General informs the chief executive that there is no such endorsement on that entry—

(i)

if the chief executive does not know the name and address of the adopted person concerned but, in the chief executive’s opinion, it is probable that a social worker can ascertain identifying information relating to that person without undue effort, the chief executive shall cause a social worker to attempt to do so:

(ii)

if the chief executive knows the name and address of the adopted person concerned and, in the chief executive’s opinion, it would be possible for a social worker to contact that person without undue effort, the chief executive shall cause a social worker to attempt to do so and to ascertain whether or not that person is willing to have that person’s name and address communicated to the applicant:

(iii)

the name and address of the adopted person concerned shall not be communicated to the applicant unless that person has indicated to that social worker that that person is willing for them so to be communicated:

(iv)

if the adopted person concerned has indicated to that social worker that that person is willing to have that person’s name and address communicated to the applicant, the chief executive shall communicate them to the applicant and inform both the adopted person and the applicant of the effect of section 10.

Section 8(1): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(a): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(b): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(c): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(d): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(d)(i): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(d)(ii): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 8(2)(d)(iv): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

9 Access by adult adopted persons to identifying information

(1)

Any adult adopted person may make a written application to the chief executive for identifying information relating to either or both of that person’s birth parents.

(2)

Every application under subsection (1) shall be accompanied by an original birth certificate relating to the applicant.

(3)

The chief executive shall disclose to an applicant under subsection (1) all available identifying information relating to any birth parent concerned, and inform that person of the effect of section 10, if, and only if,—

(a)

details of that parent appear in the original birth certificate accompanying the application; or

(b)

the chief executive is satisfied that that parent is dead.

(4)

Where—

(a)

the chief executive is required by subsection (3) to disclose to an applicant under subsection (1) identifying information relating to a birth parent; and

(b)

the chief executive does not know the name and address of that parent; and

(c)

in the opinion of the chief executive, it is probable that a social worker can ascertain identifying information relating to that parent without undue effort,—

the chief executive shall cause a social worker to attempt to do so; and subsection (3) shall apply to all identifying information obtained as a result.

Section 9(1): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(3): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(4): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(4)(a): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(4)(b): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 9(4)(c): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

10 Departmental assistance in approaching parent or child

(1)

An adult adopted person who has ascertained the name and address of a birth parent may request any social worker to approach that parent on that person’s behalf.

(2)

Any person who has ascertained the name and address of an adult adopted person whose birth parent that person is may request any social worker to approach that adopted person on that person’s behalf.

(3)

Any adoptive parent of an adopted person who has ascertained the name and address of a birth parent of that adopted person may request any social worker to approach that parent on that adoptive parent’s behalf.

(4)

A social worker to whom a request is made under this section may decline that request.

(5)

Where a social worker accepts a request made under this section, that social worker shall approach the person concerned and ask if that person is willing to meet the person who made the request, and if so under what circumstances; and—

(a)

if the person concerned is unwilling to meet the person who made the request, the social worker shall so inform the person who made the request; and

(b)

if the person concerned is willing to meet the person who made the request, the social worker shall inform the person who made the request of the circumstances under which the person concerned is willing to do so.

(6)

Where a social worker accepts a request under this section, and approaches any person,—

(a)

if the person who made that request is an adult adopted person, or an adoptive parent of an adult adopted person, that social worker shall inform the person approached of the rights (if any) that that person has under section 3 in relation to any other child of that person who may have been adopted:

(b)

if the person who made that request is a birth parent, that social worker shall inform the person approached of the rights that that person has under section 7 in relation to the other birth parent of that person.

11 Access to information on medical grounds

(1)

For the purposes of this section,—

doctor means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of medicine

medical includes psychiatric

relative, in relation to any other person, means a person who is by blood the grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, or (whether of the whole or half blood) brother, sister, or cousin, of that other person

unknown relative, in relation to any person, means a relative whose name and address are unknown to that person by virtue of the confidentiality attendant upon the adoption of that person, that relative, or some other person who is a relative of them both.

(2)

A doctor who is—

(a)

responsible for the medical treatment and advice of any patient; and

(b)

satisfied that it is necessary or desirable, for the purpose of providing treatment of or advice relating to any medical condition of that patient, or for the purpose of providing genetic counselling for or in relation to that patient, to obtain information about the medical or genetic history of an unknown relative,—

may give the chief executive notice in writing to that effect, specifying the information concerned.

(3)

Where, in the opinion of any doctor, any information obtained as a result of that doctor’s dealings with any patient is likely to be relevant to the provision of treatment of or advice relating to any medical condition or potential medical condition of any unknown relative, or the provision of genetic counselling for or in relation to any unknown relative, that doctor may with the consent of that patient (or, where that patient is not an adult, of that patient’s guardian) give the chief executive notice in writing to that effect, together with a separate statement of that information.

(4)

A social worker may produce a notice under subsection (2) or subsection (3)—

(a)

to the Registrar-General; and in that case, notwithstanding section 63 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995, the social worker shall be entitled to obtain an original birth certificate of the adopted person concerned:

(b)

to the Registrar of the court where the court file relating to the adoption concerned is held; and in that case the social worker shall be entitled to search, inspect, and take a copy of any document on the file concerned.

(5)

A social worker may disclose to the doctor concerned (in the case of a notice under subsection (2)) or the doctor of any unknown relative (in the case of a notice under subsection (3)) any information whatsoever (not being identifying information) relevant to the medical or genetic history of the patient or relative concerned.

(6)

No doctor shall disclose to any person any identifying information obtained by the use of information obtained under this section.

Section 11(1) doctor: substituted, on 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48).

Section 11(2): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 11(3): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 11(4)(a): amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

Section 11(4)(a): amended, on 1 September 1995, by section 95 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16).

Approved persons and organisations

12 Minister may approve persons and organisations for purposes of Act

(1)

The Minister of Social Welfare may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, approve any person or organisation (whether incorporated or unincorporated) to undertake counselling under this Act.

(2)

Any approved organisation may from time to time notify the chief executive of the name of any member or employee authorised to act on behalf of that organisation; and may at any time notify the chief executive that the authority of that member or employee has been withdrawn.

Section 12(2): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

12A Fees

(1)

Regulations made under section 13(1)(a) may prescribe fees for—

(a)

the making of any application or request under this Act to the Registrar-General, the chief executive, or a social worker; or

(b)

the approval of any person or organisation under section 12; or

(c)

the doing of any other act under this Act by the Registrar-General, the chief executive, or a social worker.

(2)

Notwithstanding anything in the Official Information Act 1982, the Registrar-General, the chief executive, or a social worker (as the case may be) may refuse to—

(a)

accept any application or request under this Act; or

(b)

approve any person or organisation under section 12; or

(c)

do any other act under this Act,—

for which or for the making or doing of which a fee is prescribed (whether under this Act or by or under any other enactment) unless the fee has been paid.

(3)

Notwithstanding subsection (2),—

(a)

the Registrar-General may—

(i)

dispense with the payment of all or any part of any fee payable to the Registrar-General under this Act; or

(ii)

refund all or any part of any fee paid to the Registrar-General under this Act; and

(b)

the chief executive may—

(i)

dispense with the payment of all or any part of any fee payable to the chief executive or a social worker under this Act; or

(ii)

refund all or any part of any fee paid to the chief executive or a social worker under this Act.

Section 12A: inserted, on 8 August 1991, by section 2(1) of the Adult Adoption Information Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 94).

Section 12A(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 12A(1)(c): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 12A(2): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 12A(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 12A(3)(b)(i): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

Section 12A(3)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 October 1999, by section 13 of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82).

General

13 Regulations

(1)

The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for either or both of the following purposes:

(a)

prescribing fees payable under this Act:

(b)

providing for such other matters as are contemplated by or necessary for giving full effect to this Act and its due administration.

(2)

Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

(2)

[Repealed]

(3)

[Repealed]

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
PublicationPCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the GazetteLA19 s 69(1)(c)
PresentationThe Minister must present it to the House of RepresentativesLA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
DisallowanceIt may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 13(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 13(2): repealed, on 8 August 1991, by section 2(2) of the Adult Adoption Information Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 94).

Section 13(3): repealed, on 8 August 1991, by section 2(2) of the Adult Adoption Information Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 94).

14 Act not to affect disclosure of non-identifying information

Nothing in this Act shall affect the disclosure to any person of any information relating to any other person that is not, in relation to that other person, identifying information.

15 Amendment to Adoption Act 1955

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Notes
1 General

This is a consolidation of the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.

2 Legal status

A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.

Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.

3 Editorial and format changes

The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.

4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation

Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7): section 3

Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40): section 135

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31): section 149

Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48): section 47

Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48): section 175(1)

Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82): section 13

Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16): section 95

Adult Adoption Information Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 94)

Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26): section 36(2)