G v Attorney-General - [1994] 1 NZLR 714

Crown — Civil liability — Natural mother requesting son's birth certificate to be endorsed so as not to give him access to identifying information — Information subsequently released by Department of Social Welfare — Whether Crown liable for breach of confidence, negligence, breach of contract or breach of statutory duty — Crown Proceedings Act 1950, s 6(1) and (2).

Tort — Negligence — Duty of care — Natural mother's right to protection from release of information concerning adoption — Right recognised by statute but not enforced by statutory sanction — Information released by Department of Social Welfare — Whether Crown owed duty of care to natural mother — Whether emotional harm to natural mother foreseeable — Whether costs of taking steps to restore anonymity in contemplation — Proximity considerations — Whether reasonable to impose duty of care.