After the launch of their Baby Daddies Facebook page in 2016, Auckland-based Christian Newman, and husband Mark Edwards, started to become a social media sensation. At first inundated with responses, after a three-month vetting process, all the potential surrogates had dropped out.  The couple eventually found a suitable surrogate, 32-year-old paramedic Aleisha Hart from Nelson, in June 2016.  Then in August, Newman’s 26 year old sister-in-law in New York stepped in to provide eggs. Francis Newman-Edwards was born after a four year journey. They have been the subject of a TV special and various magazine features. Christian will talk about the altruistic matching platform – Love Makes A Family

Dr. Michael Kettel graduated with honors from the University of Arizona. He joined the San Diego Fertility Center in 1996 after serving as the Director of Infertility Services and as a member of the academic faculty at the University of California, San Diego for more than 6 years. Following his residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Utah, he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Kettel is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr. Kettel is also certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director with additional expertise in Human Embryology and Andrology. This unique certification places him among very few fertility doctors who have sought out this additional training and expertise. He is a member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Heather has an extensive background in customer service with a passion for developing partnerships and solutions. Supporting  intended parents and co-ordinating sperm, egg and embryo shipping globally are Heather’s areas of expertise with our network of couriers.

HHelen has 18 years’ experience working in the fertility sector as a social worker and counsellor. At Repromed, an independent fertility provider in Auckland, Helen provides leadership and direction on all counselling matters, policy and procedures, and education that meets the needs of Repromed and its clients. Helen has expertise and particular interest in the legal framework for ART service provision in New Zealand, cross-border reproductive care, and in stress management and lifestyle factors for pre-conception and pregnancy health. Helen believes in maintaining a work-life balance in her own life, and supports her clients to achieve this in their lives.

Stewart is a Barrister and Solicitor at D&S Law, Auckland specialising in the law relating to assisted reproductive technology, domestic and international surrogacy, and adoption, as well as immigration and refugees. His expertise in the field of surrogacy saw him appointed as an expert advisor to the Law Commission when it reviewed New Zealand’s surrogacy laws. Stewart together with his same-sex partner are the parents to children born as a result of domestic altruistic surrogacy. Stewart is a keen advocate for LGBTIQ rights and for access generally to assisted reproductive technology. In that regard, Stewart obtained a ground-breaking judgment in the New Zealand courts when he successfully argued the case for same-sex de facto couples to be able to be granted joint adoption orders. Stewart also represented a female same-sex couple in mediation with the Department of Internal Affairs, where he was successful in having the Department agree to change its procedures, and allow two women for the first time in New Zealand history to be named on a child’s birth certificate as “mother” and “mother”, when the child was born as a result of assisted reproductive technology.

Tamati Coffey and his partner Tim Smith had their baby Tūtānekai by gestational surrogate in July 2019. It was a long process that started many years earlier, but they were dissuaded by the cumbersome process. In Nov 2019, they completed the process by adopting their Son in line with the current legal framework. As a Member of Parliament, Tamati Coffey has lodged a members Bill to streamline the surrogacy process for couples in the future.

Alice is a 30 year old twin born via gestational surrogacy in the UK. She came to Auckland in 2009 after high school on a gap year and ended up studying at university and staying. New Zealand was so good, her family migrated also. Alice is a personal trainer and is happily settled in life with her partner and his children. She will talk about growing up and disclosure  -how her parents told her about how she came into the world and what effect it has on her own sense of self.

After a couple of unsuccessful rounds using egg donors in NZ, Anne and her husband were advised by their NZ specialist to work with San Diego Fertility Centre. SDFC’s online Egg Donor Profiles meant that they were able to choose their egg donor whilst still in New Zealand. With SDFC working alongside their clinic, they completed all necessary transfer preparation in NZ before heading to San Diego. Anne’s early menopause meant that although still able to carry children, egg donation was necessary. They have two children, born in NZ in 2014 and 2016

Emma is a two times gestational surrogate for gay friends in Auckland, with the IVF procedure being done both times in San Diego. She carried their first child (a boy) for them in 2018, born in October when Emma was 30 and their second child (a girl) was born in December 2019. Emma lives in Whanganui with her 3 children.

Glenda and Calvin embarked on an extraordinary surrogacy journey that spanned five years after Glenda’s triumphant battle against stage 3 Ovarian cancer at the age of 21 in 2012. In 2017, they began their path with Fertility Plus, navigating through the intricate Ecart process in their pursuit of starting a family. During this challenging period, they formed an enduring friendship with an egg donor who not only provided her eggs but also wholeheartedly offered to carry their baby, resulting in a Traditional surrogacy arrangement. This remarkable story of love and perseverance also encompassed the adoption of their daughter, ensuring that Bailee-Rose grows up knowing the depths of her cherished and unique life journey.

Hao is single, but this didnt put him off his dream of having family. He started his surrogacy journey in April 2020 after attending a Growing Families event and worked with an Idaho-based surrogacy agency and IVF clinic. His son was born in January 2022 and is now just over one year old. Hao was supported by New Zealand lawyer Stewart Dalley. He will discuss what he learned along the way, the hurdles, doubts and how to survive the process 

Laura is a single Mum of two living in Taupo. She met her recipient intended dads only two years ago. They are from Auckland and wanted to use donor embryos – the first time this was allowed in New Zealand for surrogacy. Aged 39, Laura commenced what has been the most amazing, crazy and sometimes frustrating two years of her life . The first embryo transfer failed, but the second one stuck and after a great pregnancy in late December 2022, Laura went into labour – it required an emergency c-section but she gave birth to a baby boy – Beau . Laura maintains a close relationship with Beau and his Dad’s. Her own children also adore them.

A devoted Instagrammer, at one point Laura had 3000 people following her journey. She is keen to advise and help other surrogates and IPs. Check out her Instagram page – theirbabymybody 

Leighton & his husband wanted to start a family for many years and after conversations with friends who had offered help in some capacity but didn’t eventuate, they met their amazing surrogate through Facebook. After a period of getting to know each other they decided traditional surrogacy was the best fit for us and in 2021 they welcomed their son. Leighton will discuss the ‘traditional surrogacy’ route to parenthood, which can avoid IVF clinic involvement

Stacey is a mum of 4 children aged 13, 11, 8 and one in heaven. Having once felt the pain of seeing others with their babies while her arms were left empty from the lost of a first born, and also seeing a friend struggle through IVF to extend her family, Stacie knew that if she could she wanted to be able to help others achieve their dreams of having a family. Stacie has been a gestational surrogate and birthed a beautiful baby girl in 2018, and then went on to complete two traditional surrogacies for two separate families, with beautiful little boys born in 2019 and 2021. There are plans in the pipeline for one last journey.