Dan and Tracy are fighting to keep their family together.

Dan has 3 children, and Tracy 2.

Meeting in 2015 when visiting her sister, who lives in NZ. July 2022 saw them spend more time together and after her return home, they kept in contact.

Tracy, her 2 sons, her Mum & Dad, and another sister came to NZ for Christmas 2022.

Realising they were soulmates and in love, instead of returning to Ireland as planned, Tracy and her sons moved in with Dan.

An anxious wait for visas, saw savings diminish, as Tracy was not permitted to work, visa costs and having to pay thousands for her eldest son to attend high school. Tracy homeschooled her youngest until visas were approved.

A busy year of “firsts” they bought their own home using Dan’s Kiwi Saver and the last of Tracy’s savings as a deposit, got engaged and married.

Dan & Tracy were feeling happy with all they had accomplished to give security to their blended family.

Tracy has full custody of her sons, and was shocked when nearly a year to the day of their moving in together as a family, the father of her sons took legal action for the boys to be uplifted by Child Services and returned to Ireland. Tracy immediately engaged a lawyer to keep her boys here and have the case heard in NZ. A final NZ hearing will happen April 2024.

The legal fees are significant given the complexity of the work involved to defend the applications. While Dan works full time, Tracy works part-time to be there for the children. After mortgage and outgoings, there is little to no money left each week.