Story: Adoption

Babies in demand

Babies in demand

Adoptions increased after the Second World War, and demand for babies often outstripped supply. Girls were more popular than boys and Pākehā babies were preferred. Over the years the New Zealand Woman's Weekly published a number of articles about adoption. One story in 1960 included this photo of a child welfare officer (the forerunner to social workers) explaining the adoption procedure to prospective parents.

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New Zealand Woman's Weekly
Reference: Women's Weekly, 28 March 1960

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How to cite this page:

Anne Else, 'Adoption - Growth in adoption', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26047/babies-in-demand (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Anne Else, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 18 Apr 2018