IRD Staffers defather children

Hi,

I'm a Dad to four kids. Two are to a Mum who lives in Auckland and is ok about me seeing my kids and spending time with them.

The other two boys were taken away to Dannevirke by their Mum and she makes it difficult to see them even when I drive all the way from Auckland.

I was paying the 30% rate of child support, but found I couldn't afford to do that and live - let alone having a place where my kids can stay when they see their Dad.

So I did an admin review and it was reviewed by a bloke who seemed reasonable sympathetic and the result was a reduction in my child support payments.

This happened each year for 4 years and then it was reviewed by Margaret J.

I was left stunned like a possum in the headlights of a car. She changed all the numbers and instead of the original 30% has made it so I have to pay 18% for my two kids in Auckland and another 18% for the two in Dannevirke. So I have to pay 36% of my income - before tax is worked out - as child support AND pay the income tax.

I can't afford this so I wont be able to see my kids.

I want to be able to afford to see my kids. I'm pretty sure my kids want to see their Dad. I'm stuffed if I can figure a way to make it work.

I struggle every day with the thought that Margaret J must hate men so bad or that maybe she was acting on orders from IRD.

There is no-one at IRD who seems even a little bit concerned that justice may have been derailed by someone's personal agenda.

I found a group called Parents for Children and their person helped a bit, but he wasn't able to get a good answer from the site manager at Manukau as to why the review had been worked out like that.

I'm not sure what to do next. I can't pay what they ask because that just money doesn't exist.

And I keep asking: why me?

Thanks for listening, DS