Years in the making, the Law Commission last week presented its comprehensive review of surrogacy in New Zealand to parliament. Currently, those wishing to become parents through the process of using a surrogate mother must rely on out-dated adoption law that is deemed no longer fit for purpose.
The commission made a raft of wide-ranging recommendations in its review, including introducing a simple administrative pathway for intended parents, establishing a national surrogacy birth register, and allowing payments to the surrogate mother for reasonable costs incurred.
Margaret Casey QC, an expert in reproductive law, was part of the advisory group for the commission. Casey is also part of a Hague-based panel trying to establish an inter-country treaty around surrogacy.
Photo: Supplied
