A recent New Zealand study interviewing 1,700 Kiwi dads found that they were quite happy with their parenting, but not happy with how they are portrayed in the media.

The ‘Supporting Kiwi Dads’ study published in December by the Families Commission found that 60% of fathers think the media portray fathers poorly, and 49% think that society does not recognise the importance of fathers to be involved.

The fathers also reported spending, on average, 37 hours per week with their children, which, together with household chores, took up all or most of their spare time.

More than half of fathers surveyed said work commitments were a barrier for fathering, but even those that were full-time carers for their children said they wanted to spend more time with them.

This is somewhat at odds with other studies which showed that the number of hours men work has little impact on how much time they spend with their children.

Father & Child coordinator Harald Breiding-Buss says that men are ‘pre-conditioned’ to appear as good workers . “There is now a lot of social pressure to say you want more time with your children, and work is a socially very acceptable reason to not give them that time already.

It would be the first excuse anyone would use, and the first thing that would come to mind when asked about it in a telephone interview.”

The survey showed high levels of satisfaction with themselves when it comes to parenting. Large majorities reported that it came instinctively or that they had picked it up as they went along.

Similarly, the vast majority of fathers never attended a parenting course or support group. Only 20% reported having attended antenatal classes, which is somehwat at odds with the experience of childbirth educators that most women bring their partners to these classes.