Fears that more same-sex couples will want to adopt if the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill goes ahead are unfounded, according to Child, Youth and Family.
Out of 250 to 300 currently approved adoptive parents, only a handful are same-sex couples and this is unlikely to change significantly with any law change.
Same-sex couples are treated the same as de facto couples when it comes to adopting as the Guardianship Act of 1955 states only couples who are spouses can adopt.
One of the pair can adopt but the other can only have guardianship. Court orders can be made to over-ride the law in specific cases.
In the 12 months to June 2012, there were 21 non-relative adoptions in New Zealand.