It was a common occurrence in New Zealand at that time - a generation of 'baby scooping' and forced adoption. The young women worked in the laundry and gardens to earn their keep.
"I was taken home. But my crying really did upset my mother. I used to ring the home and plead with the matron to have my child back.
"I was damaged, hurt, my mental condition was not good. I didn't get over it. It was a grief that I started my day with and ended my day with, my child was never off my mind."
For 18 years, Mrs Wilkinson suffered.
It was only through Jigsaw - an organisation that helped birth parents and children reconnect - that Maggie finally met her daughter, Vivienne.
Mother and daughter had been searching for each other for almost two decades.
"I sort of sat on the letterbox waiting. I couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe that I could at last hold her. It was like having your baby put in your arms for the first time."
Mrs Wilkinson has never forgotten that day - but says so many women never got to meet their lost children.
So she created a petition and posted it to Facebook, receiving support from Labour Party deputy leader Jacinda Ardern.
"A hundred and something signed it over just one weekend. Jacinda said it actually only needed my name on it anyway and that she'd be my sponsor."
Mrs Wilkinson flew to Wellington with other women whose children were taken from them, to appear before a select committee.
They shared their stories in a quest for justice. But Mrs Wilkinson is not optimistic.
"I want to believe in democracy, but if Amy Adams can say there won't be an inquiry without even reading the findings, and take no notice of the proceedings - we sort of wonder what farce we have just gone through."
"I did get some mediation and a little bit of counselling after 52 years," she laughs.
Mrs Wilkinson says we must never forget past wrongs, because we will only open ourselves up to repeating them.
Made with funding from
