Peter Dunne has acknowledged that a formula assessment based on gross income to calculate Child Support (Tax) is unfair and can  produce crippling payment levels.

He intends to replace it with a formula based on the findings his departmental researchers have concocted on the cost of raising children.

There has been little rigorous analysis of the findings of of the study and it has already been used to inform policy

What is clear to me is that the figures concocted don’t add up. What worries me is the lack of rigorous criticism of the methodology and the results.  The press lapped this up and have never dug deeper than the press release and sound byte summaries.

There is a battle coming over the calculations of the cost of raising a child  and it reaches beyond Child Tax.

This thread is seeking to bring together ordinary Kiwis to look at what fairly constitutes the basic needs of children ,both the financial and non financial components of those needs.

Feedback on the research findings is appreciated, as are your own thoughts on the costs of raising children . If you quote research or articles please provide a link to reference.

Regards

Scrap