Placing a baby with a loving, caring couple who can't have children is a real "buzz" for Rotorua's Julie Maxwell.
For the past eight years, Ms Maxwell has been one of two adoptions social workers working in the Bay of Plenty region with adoptive parents and women giving up their babies for adoption - whether it be to a stranger or family member, known as whangai adoptions by Maori.
She is speaking out about her work to raise awareness in the lead-up to National Social Worker Day tomorrow.
Ms Maxwell is one of 30 social workers at Rotorua's Child, Youth and Family, which includes care and protection, youth justice and a care team, which she is part of.
Working as a weight-loss instructor at the time she headed into social work training, Ms Maxwell said it seemed a natural progression for her.