An Adoption Story - Three Episodes

Ekaterina
At three-years-old, Ekaterina, also known as Kat, was adopted from an orphanage in Syktyvkar, Russia. Kat describes her earliest memories of Aotearoa, from seeing grass for the first time to adjusting to life in Tauranga. Throughout her life, Kat has grappled with the complexities of being an adopted child. With unanswered questions about her birth family, she has tried to follow clues to find her mother. With the help of Adoption Story producer Alex Gilbert, and a liaison in Russia, Kat tracks down her biological mother.  Valentina lives in a Russian care home, and Kat hopes the two can meet in person someday.

Ian
Born in Waihī in 1946, Ian was adopted at five and a half months old. Although Ian had some hunches, it wasn't until age 48 that he found out his adoptive parents were not his biological mother and father, when Ian's wife Leigh questioned his birth certificate. Ian eventually discovers bad news, but takes a trip to Blenheim to meet one of his biological parents. Unravelling the truth of his whakapapa with help from his daughter, Ian learns he is part Māori. He finds a sense of "coming home" as he connects with his iwi, and traces his genealogy back to the land of Hawaiki and the Tahitian islands. 

Valentina
Adoptee Valentina had an "ideal Australian upbringing" in Brisbane. Raised by her adoptive parents, who made sure she had knowledge of her Russian background, Valentina began searching for her birth parents after having her first child. With help from producer Alex Gilbert, Valentina finds her half-sister, still in Russia; she also learns that she has two brothers in New Zealand. Despite uncovering tragic news about her birth parents, Valentina finds closure and relief.