All data can be found in an Excel download located on the student loan dataset page. Data is updated two months post the end of each quarter.
Datasets for student loan statistics
Repayment thresholds for New Zealand-based borrowers
New Zealand-based borrowers receiving salary or wages are required to repay 12 cents of every dollar earned over the pay period repayment threshold (e.g., $439 per week from 1 April 2023). The deductions are considered sufficient and do not result in additional repayments provided they are within a determined threshold. If significant under-deductions occur, the employer is required to make compulsory extra deductions. Past threshold amounts are in the student loan quarterly download above.
Borrowers who earn $500 or more of adjusted net income (income that's not salary and wages and adjustments), and whose total income including salary or wages is $500 or more than the annual repayment threshold, are required to make payments on this income.
Additional information on adjusted net income can be found on our Repaying my student loan when I am self-employed or earn other income page.
Repaying my student loan when I am self-employed or earn other income
This table shows the repayment threshold by year ending 31 March (the tax year).
| Tax year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threshold | $20,020 | $20,280 | $21,268 | $22,828 | $24,128 |
Repayment thresholds for overseas-based borrowers
Information on the repayment thresholds for overseas-based borrowers can be found on our Repaying my student loan when I live overseas page.
Repaying my student loan when I live overseas
Student loan repayments
This graph shows the amount of loan repayments from employers, New Zealand-based borrowers and overseas-based borrowers as at the end of each quarter.
This graph has multiple vertical bars tracking the repayments received directly from New Zealand-based borrowers, overseas-based borrowers and through employer deductions. The vertical axis shows the repayments (millions). The horizontal axis shows quarterly data from March 2013 to 31 March 2024.
As at 31 March 2024:
- Repayments received directly from New Zealand-based student loan borrowers decreased 3.8% from $59.4m in March 2023 to $57.1m in March 2024.
- Repayments from overseas-based student loan borrowers increased 15.9% from $42.5 million in March 2023 to $49.3 million in March 2024.
- Repayments through employer deductions decreased 5.7% from $316.2 million in March 2023 to $298.2 million in March 2024.
- Total repayments for all borrowers decreased by 3.2% from $418.1 million in March 2023 to $404.6 million in March 2024.
Notes:
- The amount repaid includes all money received:
- directly from borrowers (voluntary payments, payments from borrowers with income other that salary and wages and overseas-based borrowers)
- from employers through deductions from salary or wage earners.
- In 2012/13 there was a spike in repayments directly from borrowers because of the ending of the voluntary repayment bonus in 2013.
- The way student loan salary and wage repayment obligations were calculated changed on 1 April 2012, so each payment was considered full and final except if there were significant over or under deductions. The final "square up" payment under the previous regime was February 2013.
- A borrower is any person who has drawn from the Student Loan Scheme and not yet repaid in full.
Percent of student loan borrowers that meet their obligations
This table shows the percent of student loan borrowers who have met their obligations against Inland Revenue’s performance target of 85%, as at the end of each quarter
| Borrowers meeting obligations | 31 March 2023 | 31 March 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand-based borrowers | 94.5% | 94.2% |
| Overseas-based borrowers | 19.8% | 29.8% |
| Total | 82.4% | 82.7% |
As at 31 March 2024:
- New Zealand-based borrowers meeting their obligations decreased 0.3% from 94.5% in March 2023 to 94.2% in March 2024
- Overseas-based borrowers meeting their obligations increased 10.0% from 19.8% in March 2023 to 29.8% in March 2024.
- All borrowers meeting their obligations increased 0.3% from 82.4% in March 2023 to 82.7% in March 2024 (against Inland Revenue’s performance target of 85%).
Notes:
- To be considered compliant borrowers must have met their repayment obligations. For borrowers who do not have payments made through their employers, they will meet their obligations if they pay their assessment by the due date. For borrowers who have repayments through their employers, each payment is considered full and final unless their payment resulted in a significant over or under deduction.
- A borrower is any person who has drawn from the Student Loan Scheme and not yet repaid in full.