The New Zealand University Students Association recently published a list of the government's student support cuts over the last few years. The most recent changes, criminalising those with overdue student loan debts, are just one of many over the years.
The list is below, or click on the link above:
The list is below, or click on the link above:
Changes to student support 2010-2014:
2010
Recipients of superannuation and veteran’s pension eligibility for allowances removed.
Student loan establishment fee increased.
Annual IRD admin fee introduced. A cost for having a loan that undermines the interest free scheme.
Two-year stand-down introduced for Australians and permanent residents.
Loan eligibility removed for those who didn’t pass ½ their papers the previous year.
7-EFTS life-time limit introduced to borrowing entitlement.
2011
Students aged over 55’s eligibility for loans for living costs or course-related costs removed.
Part-time full-year students’ eligibility for course-related costs removed.
2012
Post-graduate students’ entitlement to allowances removed.
All exceptions (such as national significance or recognised long course) to 200-week limit on allowances removed.
Parental income limit frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Restrictions on borrowing – below the course fees charged – for pilots. Students need to find money from some other source.
Repayment rate increases from 10% to 12% and repayment threshold frozen.
New matching agreement introduced between Customs and Inland Revenue to restrict the movement from New Zealand of some student loan borrowers.
2013
Stand-down increased to three-years for non-citizens and extended to refugees.
Students aged over 40 restricted to 120 weeks of allowances, including any they used before they were 40.
Parental income limit continues to be frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Students aged over 65 all eligibility to allowances removed.
Students aged under-18 doing fee free level one or two courses will not qualify for any component of the student loan.
Student loan repayment threshold remains frozen, increasing repayments obligations.
2014
Increased repayment rates for overseas based borrowers. Refusal to investigatepayments on the basis of income, continue to be based only on the size of the loan.
It is now a criminal offence for an ex-student to be behind in their student loan repayments.
Introduction of an “arrest at the border” capability at airports and the removal of the right to a New Zealand passport for student loan debtors.
Parental income limit continues to be frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Student loan repayment threshold remains frozen, increasing repayments obligations.
2010
Recipients of superannuation and veteran’s pension eligibility for allowances removed.
Student loan establishment fee increased.
Annual IRD admin fee introduced. A cost for having a loan that undermines the interest free scheme.
Two-year stand-down introduced for Australians and permanent residents.
Loan eligibility removed for those who didn’t pass ½ their papers the previous year.
7-EFTS life-time limit introduced to borrowing entitlement.
2011
Students aged over 55’s eligibility for loans for living costs or course-related costs removed.
Part-time full-year students’ eligibility for course-related costs removed.
2012
Post-graduate students’ entitlement to allowances removed.
All exceptions (such as national significance or recognised long course) to 200-week limit on allowances removed.
Parental income limit frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Restrictions on borrowing – below the course fees charged – for pilots. Students need to find money from some other source.
Repayment rate increases from 10% to 12% and repayment threshold frozen.
New matching agreement introduced between Customs and Inland Revenue to restrict the movement from New Zealand of some student loan borrowers.
2013
Stand-down increased to three-years for non-citizens and extended to refugees.
Students aged over 40 restricted to 120 weeks of allowances, including any they used before they were 40.
Parental income limit continues to be frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Students aged over 65 all eligibility to allowances removed.
Students aged under-18 doing fee free level one or two courses will not qualify for any component of the student loan.
Student loan repayment threshold remains frozen, increasing repayments obligations.
2014
Increased repayment rates for overseas based borrowers. Refusal to investigatepayments on the basis of income, continue to be based only on the size of the loan.
It is now a criminal offence for an ex-student to be behind in their student loan repayments.
Introduction of an “arrest at the border” capability at airports and the removal of the right to a New Zealand passport for student loan debtors.
Parental income limit continues to be frozen. No longer adjusts with inflation, making fewer students eligible.
Student loan repayment threshold remains frozen, increasing repayments obligations.