Thu, 02 Sep 2010

What do you think of Peter Dunne's child support discussion document?

Should both parents' incomes be taken into account when setting child care payments?

It's believed around $2 billion is owed in unpaid child care payments and penalties. Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says the system needs to be fairer and has released a discussion document. The document also asks whether child support payments should be automatically deducted from incomes and whether penalty and write-off rules should be amended to provide a better incentive to pay.

Click here to read Mr. Dunne's discussion document

Is the present system outdated and unfair? Do fathers now have a greater role in caring for children after parental separation? What changes would you make?

16 opinions

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Opinion:

By Kelvin Dunn

I am a father who has had a Child Support liability for about 10 years, until late 2010 for three children but since then only two. I am lso a father who has had no contact with any of those children for over three years, caused in part by the current Child Support System.I am therefore well qualified to comment on it.
The iniquitous system is long overdue for an overhaul. It has to be said, however, that no replacement system will be acceptable to all payers/receivers and that there will inevitably be flaws and inequities resulting in conflict. The recent announcement does not provide any detailed proposals/formula etc so it is impossible to say whether the new system will be any better or worse than exists now. It is clear however that some major factors that would, of themselves, improve the current system (such as a presumption of equal shared care from the moment of relationship breakdown) will not be taken into account by IRD as they are ones for Family Court Legislation.
The proposals for reform of Child Support are at best piece meal. Having commented on the original consultation document my very great fear is that the new proposals will be just as iniquitous for paying fathers as the current system. Children are still unlikely to benefit.

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By george

Its January 2011 Whats happened ? Nothing Peter Dunne will retire soon and then we paying parents will continued to be screwed over.
The New Zealand Govt IRD and child support are liars and low lifes
And Peter Dunne nothing will do just that .... Nothing.

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By roy

admin review i keep getting told.ird get a few lawyers to shine a german spot light on you to plead your case.and i,ve been told by my accountant nobody come through it better off.that would set a case argument for others they would have to help.actung-off to the big pie warmer you go.
ive gone from 130 days a year access to 24 now the kids have moved away.80km trip i can,t afford the fuel for.

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By roy allan

well i,m selling everything i have just to meet my 1000 per month payment.i only earn 3600 p/m and rent is 1800p/m not much left for ph and power or food.now they have just re assessed me and lumped another 10k on as arrears for good measure .10%penalties and 2% every month its not paid so i,ll never be out of this mess.my only car is on trademe to sell which will reduce my visitation to my kids.
as for deducting from my wages i feel its an invasion of my privacy.why do that when i never miss a payment? fair enough if i miss a few payments.to be honest i,m getting close to having no options left as i,ve written to hon peter dunne twice with no satisfaction,

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By Duncan

I have been paying child support for 10 years for a boy i haven't seen for 8 years, i don't know where he is despite repeated attempts to locate him....It has gutted me.

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By Steven

My ex has costody of two children they have not wanted anything to do with me nor my 4 older daughters. These two children made this decision at the age of 3 and 5 . Their Mum married 9 months after separation. I have paid child support for 11 years and have had no contact.Both the mother and new partner are employed and very well off. What do I pay for!

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By Keven B

when i married my partner she came off the dpb and when she made enquiries with the ird about how she went about claiming maintenance from her former partner she was told he had made no payments since 2002 and because the paperwork wasnt done correctly there is no way to try and recoup the money. when my partner approached her ex he told her that if he has to start maintanance payments he may as well go for full custody and as we cant afford to even ring a lawyer let alone hire one we have just backed off and let the issue lie

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By kane

Another benefit that can be cut eventually I think.. I am sick of solo mothers who knowingly get pregnant so they can go on the dpb and men who do to.. Maybe our best bet is to go back to the days before the dpb... When you had a family when you could afford a family.. If you couldn't you adopted baby to a good family or had a abortion even government care would be cheaper... As you watch the people who have child births down well the ones the tax payer needs to pay out for.. This benefit is going to go up and up it wont stop as the country gets bigger so will this benefit cost.. Not to mention the woman who have kids to three sometimes four men...

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