Whāngai is when a tamaiti(child) is raised by someone who is not their birth parents. Often someone who is another whānau member, like grandparents.
Traditionally, the practice of whāngai was to strengthen whānau, hapū and iwi relationships and honour the responsibility that whānau had.
The tamaiti whāngai may know their birth parents and their whāngai parents. The wider whānau will usually have been involved in the whāngai decision.
Whāngai can be a formal legal adoption, or based on traditional tikanga practices, or both.
If you were raised as a tamaiti (child) whāngai, there will be records if the government was involved.
Learn about the government organisations that may have records about your whāngai or whanau care arrangement.
Fostering is when Oranga Tamariki (or a previous organisation) arranges for a child to be looked after by someone (usually someone who is not the child’s birth parent).
Fostering can be short-term, long-term or permanent.
A child can be fostered by a whānau member or family friend. This is sometimes called whānau care.
If you were fostered, you can request records from Oranga Tamariki.
Adoption normally means a ‘formal adoption’. Which is when the Family Court makes an adoption order.
For formal adoptions, an adoption order is created by the Family Court, and then registered by Births, Deaths and Marriages.
A whāngai arrangement can become a formal adoption if the whāngai parents apply for a formal adoption.
If you were adopted in Aotearoa New Zealand, records about adoptions are held by:
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