Taranaki woman's adoption struggle nears end

Romanian orphan Iani Cleland in New Plymouth. Picture supplied

A Taranaki woman whose legal struggle to formally adopt her Romanian foster-son attracted worldwide attention, hopes to return home in time for the 8-year-old to start school next year.

Alana Cleland, 30, of New Plymouth was forced to return to Romania last year to gain residency in order to adopt Iani Lingurar.

Romanian authorities had demanded Miss Cleland return Iani -- possibly to life in an orphanage.

Miss Cleland first met Iani while working as a paediatric nurse in a Romanian's orphanage and looked after him for about five years.

The adoption had been officially opened by the Romanian courts which could mean mother and son are back in time for Christmas, The Tarankai Daily News reported today.

Miss Cleland told the newspaper she could now see an end to her legal battle to adopt Iani.

However Miss Cleland was tempering her relief at getting to the "downhill slide" of the process with the knowledge the visa process for Iani to get back into New Zealand could delay their return.

A representative at the New Zealand embassy in London had told Miss Cleland that once the adoption was formalised Iani would require a special visa and Child, Youth and Family in New Zealand would be involved.

Miss Cleland said if the pair did not make it home for Christmas she hoped they will have returned for the beginning of the school year.

- NZPA