Baby X, the child who has been cared for by Vaiola hospital staff since being found swaddled in plastic three months ago, has found a new home.
The Supreme Court this week granted an application for adoption to a Tongan born couple living in New Zealand who the court decided would be able to provide the child with a financially secure and stable family environment.
Four couples had applied to adopt her.
In his judgement, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said all the applicants would have made suitable parents and said that his paramount aim had been in doing what was best for the child.
Lord Chief Justice Paulsen praised the staff at the hospital for the care they had given Baby X.
Baby X was found in a bush area in Nuku’alofa on July 22 swaddled in plastic.
She was new born and the identity of her mother remains unknown.
Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said that in New Zealand Baby X would enjoy material benefits not available to many in Tonga and have greater access to health care and education options.
New Zealand would also provide a greater chance for anonymity and accordingly less risk that Baby X would suffer from any stigma resulting from the circumstances of her birth.
“There is no risk that Baby X will lose any family ties, as she obviously has none at the present time, but she will also benefit from a close knit immediate family and a supportive extended family,” the judge said.
The main points
- Baby X, the child who has been cared for by Vaiola hospital staff since being found swaddled in plastic three months ago, has found a new home.
- The Supreme Court this week granted an application for adoption to a Tongan born couple living in New Zealand.
- Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Baby X would enjoy a better standard of living in New Zealand.
- Baby X was found in a bush area in Nuku’alofa on July 22 swaddled in plastic.
