NZ-Russian adoptions closer

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New Zealanders could be able to adopt babies from Russia within a year.

Russian officials have granted a permit to ICANZ (Inter Country Adoption New Zealand) to operate an adoption programme.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today welcomed the news. "This is a positive first step, we still have to work through the details, but we are moving closer to allowing Russian adoptions."

Russian adoptions were suspended in 2006 after concerns about practises by Russian agencies, including overcharging.

New Zealand and Russia began work on strengthening adoption protocols, Ms Bennett said.

"We are satisfied the work has been done to ensure the process will be robust and we continue to work with Russian officials on that."

A spokeswoman said that adoptions could start taking place within a year once appropriate protocols were in place.

Russia is not a party to the Hague Convention where it applies to international adoptions.

ICANZ began assisting families find children in Russian orphanages after the fall of communism with the first children adopted by New Zealanders in St Petersburg in 1992.

Since then families have adopted over 670 children, from regions in the west of Russia to western Siberia.