A woman investigated for people trafficking went on to adopt 10 more young people from overseas – 21 in total.
Legislation going through Parliament will ensure international adoptions from countries not compliant with Hague Convention rules will have to go through the Family Court.
Briefings to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford show some of the concerns that prompted action on child welfare, immigration and citizenship rules.
They detail how a 21-year-old Samoan woman adopted by her great aunt was applying for a dependent child category resident visa.
"The adoptive mother was investigated by NZ Police in 2017 for alleged people trafficking. At the time, INZ [Immigration New Zealand] was aware of 11 adopted children and NZ Police concluded the evidence obtained did not fulfil the requirements of people trafficking."
However, the police interview did raise concerns that the adoptive mother was controlling all aspects of her adopted children's lives, including their finances.
"INZ has concerns due to the number of children adopted by the supporting parent as this is the 21st adoption, in addition to her five biological children."
Immigration New Zealand had interviewed the applicant, her birth parents, and adoptive parents who confirmed the woman would be expected to give her earnings to her adoptive mother.
"There are no requirements for assessments of suitability of adoptive applicants by child welfare and protection agencies [under section 17 of the Adoption Act]. Legal Samoan adoptions meet the requirement of s17 and under Samoan legislation children can be adopted up to the age of 20. There are no limits under immigration instructions to the number of adopted children a parent can support where s17 is met."
Eleven people in two-bed flat
INZ also flagged the case of a 39-year-old woman from Kiribati, who was applying for a partnership resident visa and who had nine adopted children.
"During the interview it became clear there was limited planning in place for how the couple intended to provide for an 11-person family on one income and that the couple currently lives in a two-bedroom flat."
"[She] has been assessed as meeting partnership resident instructions and the adoptions are all legal and meet requirements, so it is likely the residence application will be approved."
Officials said they would discuss the wider adoption issue with the Kiribati judiciary.
In another briefing, officials raised nine visa applications made within four months for children or young people adopted by a 40-year-old Kiribati woman.
"The supporting parent was interviewed as part of the assessment of the applications. In the interview, the supporting parent explained that some of the applicants are biologically related to each other, and to her partner, albeit distant relatives, while others are not related and are children of family friends.
"[She] stated that all nine applicants will reside with her, her partner, and four biological children in her six-bedroom home, and she intends to support them until they can establish independent lives of their own."
The government put a temporary halt to recognising some international adoptions for immigration and citizenship purposes last September and introduced a bill to Parliament in May to make permanent changes.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said it clarified when adoptions would be accepted.
"The reforms to the system will mean there are two pathways for children adopted overseas by New Zealand citizens to automatically become New Zealand citizens, either under the process in the Hague Convention, or in the New Zealand Family Court."
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