Submission on Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill

In our submission we highlight that surrogacy is a form of family and whānau formation that has impacts on children’s rights and we advocate for the protection of children’s rights in surrogacy arrangements, particularly under Article 8. Mana Mokopuna urges the Health Committee to keep the rights of mokopuna at the forefront of its consideration of this Bill, including the children’s right to identity. We emphasise that mokopuna exist within the context of their family, whānau, hapū and iwi, and that familial and whānau connections and relationships are of utmost importance for mokopuna.