Minister: public like child support changes

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A major overhaul of New Zealand's "unfair" child support system has widespread public support, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne claims.

Government has consulted with 2000 people on possible child support changes, including moves to crack down on parents who now owe $2.3 billion in outstanding payments.

Seven of 10 respondents wanted comprehensive changes to the system, Mr Dunne said.

That included 66 per cent support for a move to take mandatory automatic support payments out of parents' pay packets, he said.

He claimed the changes were needed to stop the 200,000 children who rely on child support suffering.

"These are the biggest changes since the system was introduced 20 years ago. The system at the moment is unfair.

"There are 200,000 kids who we're really focused on. They're the innocent parties here. I don't think they should continue to be pawns in a game where they often lose."

The Government survey also canvassed support for changes to how care of children and child support payments are divided.

Nearly 70 per cent of respondents felt the current threshold for assessing shared care of a child between parents should be lowered from 135 nights a year.

Another 68 per cent said the income of both parents should be taken into account when working out child support.

Mr Dunne said he planned to introduce legislation proposing a raft of changes later this year.

"I'm very pleased. If you go right around there is public support for all of them. There is a mandate for turning this into policy."