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New Zealand is harbouring thousands of Australian deadbeat dads who have fled their child support duties.
More than 14,000 separated parents are dodging $97 million in child maintenance by living overseas, Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper reported.
The majority - nearly 8000 of them - live in New Zealand, Child Support Agency (CSA) figures revealed.
The absconders have average debts of $6400 each, with the 20 worst owing an average of $200,000 each.
The CSA's manager for international operations, David Mole, said overseas maintenance debt was a big problem.
"Where the paying parent is outside Australia, the CSA has limited control over the collection process," he said.
"As a result, there is often a considerable delay before regular child support payments are received, if at all."
However, a new data exchange system will allow immigration authorities on both sides of the Tasman to prevent separated and divorced parents from leaving the country until they have made arrangements to support their children.
- NZPA
