With new surrogacy laws on the horizon, Newshub Nation's Simon Shepherd revisited Rebecca Haworth, who has now volunteered twice to be the surrogate for her brother Tim Guptill and his partner Ashlynn.
The Guptills live in America and could not fall pregnant so three years ago Haworth offered to carry their fertilized egg to term in New Zealand instead.
The pregnancy was a success and Vera Grace was born. However antiquated adoption laws from over 70 years ago meant the Guptills had to adopt their own baby which meant being scrutinized by Oranga Tamariki.
"We had to get our police checks from the States again and health checks and all those different scans," Tim said.
"It's all the same documentation as if you were doing a private adoption, so you're having to prove that you're a viable candidate, even though it's your own child."
The adoption eventually went through and the Guptills returned to America, but two-and-a-half years later, Haworth is due to give birth to their second child on Friday.
Tim told Newshub Nation that he and Ashlynn "always wanted to have multiple children if possible", and they had decided to go through the process with his sister again because "it was not going to be safe for my wife to try to carry another baby".
Haworth went over to America in March 2022 to have the Guptill's embryo transferred into her womb but that initially didn't take so she went back again in September and that was a success.
Haworth said that this pregnancy has been good.
"The last month I've really felt it but I think that's just because it's a bigger baby and being older," she said.
"I've been tired but I think that's just pregnancy in your late 30s."
Haworth's generosity comes from her belief that "you should do unto others as you would have them do to you".
She wants her brother to have a larger family like they had when they were kids, and she also wants her niece Vera to have siblings while she grows up.
"Vera will have a sibling to love on and then they'll have their wee family as well."
Tim admitted that the process has led to him feeling "a little guilty because of what Rebecca has to go through".
He said he also feels "an overwhelming thankfulness but you don't know how to thank her."
While it is a big ask, Haworth actually went to her brother and offered to be a surrogate mother in the first place.
Haworth said that she has no sense of ownership over the Guptill's first child Vera, rather that when she sees her it's refreshing, and she realises that she doesn't want her for her own.
"I can look at her and go 'She's not my child, she's my niece'."
Tim recalled Haworth saying in the first few days of Vera's life, "I'm really glad I don't actually have any maternal pull", which he said is "super helpful emotionally".
Both Tim and Haworth think that the relationship is typical of a niece and aunty.
For the second surrogacy, Tim is having to go through a similar process to the first with Oranga Tamariki.
"We're actually working with the same case worker, so not quite as many interviews and forms but still all the forms they need for their file," he said, but he is still having to go through all the same requirements as a traditional adoption nonetheless.
On Tuesday, the Labour Government adopted a private members bill from Tāmati Coffey so surrogate parents will no longer have to adopt their own child.
"Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family for people unable to carry a child themselves. However, the laws that apply to surrogacy are outdated and need to change," Kiri Allan said.
Coffey's Bill has already been introduced and is before the Health Select Committee and the Government will now support the Committee to consider how the Bill could be amended to incorporate recommendations from the recent report into our surrogacy laws by Te Aka Matua o te Ture Law Commission.
Tim said he thinks the Bill is "great progress, it makes sense".
"The main problem was that there was no specific surrogate law before," he said. "I think it's great that you shouldn't have to adopt your own child."
Fertility New Zealand board member Juanita Copeland said all New Zealanders have the right to build a family if they choose, and surrogacy is increasingly used to do that.
The Bill will also provide guidance on how much a surrogate should be paid, alongside a surrogacy register to make it easier to find a surrogate, which Tim supports.
"It's a fantastic idea," he said.
He said he knew of many other couples in America who couldn't find a surrogate.
"They really had no options for surrogates because in the States you pay quite a hefty fee."
Surrogacy fees in the US can range between US$110,000 and US$170,000.
In New Zealand surrogates cannot claim a fee, only reasonable costs such as from loss of work and travel costs.
Both Tim and Haworth supported pre-surrogacy contracts that ensure all parties are on the same page before the process begins.
Watch the full video for more.
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