And now, here it is, your moment of hope! 💚Huge congrats to Hannah & @greenparty.org.uk !
27.02.2026 07:48
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And now, here it is, your moment of hope! 💚Huge congrats to Hannah & @greenparty.org.uk !
Kia ora Tania! We've just reached out via email to talk about our international campaign (omg I'm sorry it's a bit of a long one!) So excited to hit this kaupapa hard!
Sir Geoffrey Palmer explaining what he thinks is the Waitangi Tribunal's biggest contribution over the last 50 years
We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of NZers who shared their stories with us. Thank you. Aotearoa Greens Global is a lived experience network of Green Party Members.
You can find out more about us and our advocacy on behalf of the diaspora, here:
www.greens.org.nz/contact_aote...
You can read our report here: drive.google.com/file/d/1ULdq...
And sign our petition to the education and workforce select committee:
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
A photo of Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan in the House “The system is broken. Inflexible repayment schemes, interest rates and penalty fees are driving people into debt they have no chance of paying off. We are seeing record numbers of New Zealanders leaving Aotearoa and away from their whānau because there simply aren't enough jobs, and then adding barriers for anyone considering returning to Aotearoa”. .We can have a country that looks after its people, one where New Zealanders can get a good job and afford a home, and doesn’t punish people for seeking opportunities overseas. That starts with facing the facts.” - Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan, Green Party Spokesperson for Overseas New Zealanders
This inequitable and unfair system MUST CHANGE! We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to share their story with us. You can now read the full survey report via the link in our bio and join our call for the Education and Workforce Select Committee to investigate and fix the broken and unethical overseas student loan interest system. Read the full report and sign the petition at the link in our bio.
The system has been allowed to drift for decades now, which is why the total debt has ballooned by 800%. No one can look at these figures and say the system is working, so we’re calling ALL PARTIES to come together and find a solution that works for everyone.
Your stories 82% of people who responded to our survey said they were worried about their student loan. “I would’ve been home more often, but I was too scared to get detained and therefore not able to keep trying to pay off my loan. It’s really ridiculous. My initial loan was $18k+ now it’s $27k. How the eff do they expect me to pay this?” “According to MyIRD, my initial loan balance was $33000, i've paid back $47000 and still owe $25000 + whatever interest. How a government can do that to its citizens is beyond me... Has the government not made enough from me? It is a significant burden that's been on my mind for decades.”
Your stories “When I was 18 I accrued a $2000 student loan that I couldn't pay at that time, I also couldn't finish university at that time due to domestic violence and homelessness. I moved to Australia not knowing interest was being charged on my student loan. I am now 38 and the student loan has grown exponentially, it's now over fifty thousands dollars. I will never return to New Zealand to work or live because of this loan, I am also too scared to visit New Zealand in case I get detained at the airport due to the loan. It is keeping me from returning to New Zealand and I am applying for citizenship in Australia as a result.”
Your stories “When I left NZ, the interest rate was 2.8%. It’s now 4.9%. If I knew that this increase would be that significant in a few short years, I would have thought twice about moving overseas. I honestly feel like the current government sees us as an easy target, we literally aren’t there to fight these increases.” “The student loan interest rate feels a bit arbitrary. I can’t see any methodology that ties it to any measure (OCR, Inflation, CPI etc.) this is incredibly stressful as I have no clue what rates it may climb to, and how it may affect my loan repayments and loan length. Sometimes people treat us like we ‘deserve’ to pay more back on our loans. I work as a Nurse, and there simply aren’t jobs for Nurses in NZ, particularly in big cities like Auckland. We moved overseas because the work and conditions simply don’t stack up.”
Your stories “I’ve found the rising interest rate on my student loan to be overwhelming and discouraging. Instead of making progress, I’m constantly battling mounting interest, which makes it feel nearly impossible to get ahead. The current interest rate disproportionately affects those of us who have left Aotearoa not out of choice, but out of necessity. Ironically, the high interest rates are now a major deterrent to returning home. If the goal is to bring skilled Kiwis back to Aotearoa, this system is working against it. I strongly believe the government should cap the interest rate for overseas borrowers or at least change the policy so it better reflects the realities we face. A more compassionate and economically rational approach would not only ease the financial burden but could encourage more of us to return home.”
For a lot of borrowers more than half their annual repayments are eaten by interest. That’s worse than most banks! In 2023 the interest rate was 2.8%, this government raised it to 4.9%, a whole 1% more than initially proposed. No one can prepare or budget for such an unpredictable rise.
The system isn’t FAIR! 52% of Overseas borrowers had overdue student loan repayments in 2011. In 2025 this has ballooned to 71%! 78,000 NZers living overseas are behind on their student loan repayments. That's a city the size of Palmerston North. The average student loan for overseas-based New Zealanders: Balance: $36,601 Minimum annual payment: $3000 Interest Per Year: $1,837.34 Progress made on original loan: $1162.66
Annual repayments on an average loan A banker in London on NZ$120,000pa pre-tax owes $3000 (3.2% of after-tax income) A person working in a pub in London on Minimum wage (NZ$55,000pa pre-tax) owes $3000 (6.22% of after-tax income) Someone working as an English Teacher in Cambodia (NZ$16,000pa pre-tax) owes $3000 (20.54% of after-tax income) Someone unemployed while caring for family in Australia ($0 income) owes, you guessed it, $3000! (Infinitely more than their income)
If you are based in NZ,your interest-free repayment obligations are based on the size of your WAGES OR SALARY.
If you are based overseas, your repayment obligations are based on the size of your LOAN.
This is fundamentally inequitable; it’s really easy to see how loans get out of control quickly.
We asked overseas New Zealanders about their student loans
"From millions.... to billions!".. The system isn't working! Overseas Student Loan Debt in 2011: $289,900,000 Overseas Student Loan Debt in 2025: $2,193,000,000! 78% of the over 400 people who responded to our survey felt they were making no progress paying off their student loan from overseas... WHY?
🧵Yesterday, we released a report about overseas student loan interest. Over 400 overseas New Zealanders responded to our survey, and their stories, and the data, tell a sobering tale.
📢We are calling for a cross-party inquiry into the student loan repayment scheme for overseas-based New Zealanders.
Please sign our petition to the Education and Workforce Committee. There HAS to be a better way. It is in the government’s interest to find one.
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
💚Aotearoa Greens Global surveyed over 400 New Zealanders in 23 countries - 78% did not think they were making meaningful progress on repaying their student loan and 82% percent were worried or extremely worried about their student loan. Read their stories here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1ULdq...
📈In April 2025, the government raised the interest rate on student loan balances for overseas-based New Zealanders to 4.9%. Originally this was scheduled to rise to 3.9% in line with inflation, but the government arbitrarily added an additional 1% on top.
🧵 In 2011, student loan debt overdue from overseas-based borrowers was $289 million. In 2025 it is $2.193 *billion*. In 2011, the number of overseas-based student loan borrowers with overdue payments was 52 percent. In 2025 it is 71 percent.
The system is not working for anyone and needs reform.
Excerpt from the Overseas Student Loan Report: "When I was 18 I accrued a $2000 student loan that I couldn’t pay at that time, I also couldn’t finish university at that time due to domestic violence and homelessness. I moved to Australia not knowing interest was being charged on my student loan. I am now 38 and the student loan has grown exponentially. It’s now over $50,000. I will never return to New Zealand to work or live because of this loan. I am also too scared to visit New Zealand in case I get detained at the airport due to the loan. It is keeping me from returning to New Zealand and I am applying for citizenship in Australia as a result. - Australia"
Excerpt from the Overseas Student Loan Report: "I would never return home. I have fought with IRD for years trying to negotiate a more realistic payment plan. I even said at one stage I would pay the whole lot out and what was their best settlement figure. They wouldn’t negotiate. Recently I have had communication with them via email and they have offered another payment plan which I can’t afford because in the long run it will end up costing me more. I have looked at going bankrupt but I don’t know if it would affect my small business over here in Australia and I can’t seem to get any guidance from anyone in regards to that. I don’t pay myself an income and my health is not the best but they just won’t go easy on repayments that are out of my reach. I have tried for years to get them to be more understanding but they love the word “no”! They are now threatening legal action. I don’t have anything of value so good luck to them because I have no fight left in me. - Australia"
Excerpt from the Overseas Student Loan Report (it's too long to fit into the alt text): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ULdq4hCrMJ3UrSidu2LL7RX0dfRyJoYp/view
Excerpt from the Overseas Student Loan Report: "When I first moved to London six years ago the compulsory repayment amount of $4K per year for my loan made starting out in a new country very stressful. London is an expensive city as so with the interest and repayments on top of this it made it very hard to save any money and experience what living overseas has to offer. One of the primary reasons for New Zealanders moving overseas is to gain experiences, more career opportunities or most recently to make and save more money as the cost of living and scarcity of jobs continues to increase in New Zealand. If anything, the current overseas student loan repayment system is making it harder for many to save and therefore deterring us from returning to Aotearoa. - United Kingdom"
400 overseas borrowers reached out to @nzgreensglobal.bsky.social to share their testimonies.
And you can see a disturbing theme.
These austerity politics have deterred people from coming back home,
and you need to be in NZ within a 3 year period (or less) to be eligible to vote from overseas...
While the govt celebrates the OCR being at 2.25%
they're happy to keep interest rates on overseas Student Loan borrowers at 4.9%.
71% of overseas Student Loan borrowers can't repay the total of $2.193 billion in overdue debt, which still keeps growing.
#nzpol
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
Meet Marama in London (A photo of Marama Davidson, smiling, on a scooter)
LONDON CALLING! @maramadavidson.bsky.social is coming through London next week. We are meeting at Brixton Laundry on Monday night (03/11) - please RSVP below. Spaces are limited & there will be plant-based kai to share. We would love to see you! 💚 #nzpol #kikorangi
www.greens.org.nz/meet_marama_...
Meet Marama in London (A photo of Marama Davidson, smiling, on a scooter)
LONDON CALLING! @maramadavidson.bsky.social is coming through London next week. We are meeting at Brixton Laundry on Monday night (03/11) - please RSVP below. Spaces are limited & there will be plant-based kai to share. We would love to see you! 💚 #nzpol #kikorangi
www.greens.org.nz/meet_marama_...
With unanimous support, the Citizenship Western Samoa Restoration Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading in New Zealand Parliament today. Huge mihi to @teanau.bsky.social for this huge result. 💚
😭❤️🤍🖤
The weather may have been freezing but the vibes were immacuate in London this evening. Toitū Te Tiriti!
Toitū te tiriti. Hīkoi mō te tiriti arrives at parliament today. Sending aroha, strength and solidarity from your overseas whānau at Aotearoa Greens Global.
Toitū te tiriti! Kei kona a wairua tonu ahau.
We have been at an absolutely phenomenal Toitū Te Tiriti activation in London this evening! As the hīkoi approaches Parliament, we send our love and solidarity from across the globe.
Kia ora! Yes, you can connect with the organisers here: www.instagram.com/p/DCZ7qKrsid...
We will do our best to continue to provide updates on behalf of the organisers, who you can find here >>>
www.instagram.com/p/DCZ7qKrsid...
Toitū Te Tiriti, Monday 18 November, NZ High Commissionn, Kinniard House, 1 Pall Mall E, London SW1Y 5AU. 5-8PM.
❗UPDATED LOCATION ❗
🖤WHERE: NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSION
Kinnaird House • 1 PALL MALL East SW1Y 5AU
🤍DATE: MONDAY 18th November 2024
❤️WHEN: 5-8PM
🖤BRING: Kai, wai, placards and Tino Rangatiratanga flags!
💧There are public toilets in Trafager Sq that will be open till 10pm, but it'll cost 20p!
18 November 2024 Toitū te Tiriti Honour the Treaty Read article one. Read article two. Read article three. Rangatiratanga Māori never ceded their sovereignty Partnership Particpation, protection, our matapono-principles Time: 17:00-20:00 New Zealand House 80 Haymarket, London, England, SWIY 4
We tautoko the action below:
🖤🤍❤️E tū Rānana! Toitū Te Tiriti!
🖤WHERE: New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TE
🤍DATE: MONDAY 18th November 2024
❤️TIME: 5 PM- 8 PM
🖤BRING: kai and wai, Tino Rangatiratanga flags and placards
A text tile in black green and red which says: Kōrero mai, kōrero atu. Make your voice heard. Stand up and submit on the Treaty Principles Bill.
We must unite against this bill that seeks to divide us. Te Tiriti affirms the rights of Māori to continue to care for their people and their taonga. It provides the foundations for an enduring relationship between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti.
We need as many unique submissions as possible to let this Government know that Aotearoa does not support this divisive bill. (Image has a series of "post-its" with the following hand written messages "Te tiriti means my children get taught their history in school" "United not divided" "Our history will not be re-written" "Ake! Ake! Ake!" "We must honour the founding agreement between Tangata Whenua and Tangata TIriti" "Te Tiriti is something that binds us together"
As the hīkoi mō te Tīriti continues to make its way towards Parliament, there is now an opportunity for New Zealanders to stand up for Te Tiriti from wherever they are in the world.
💚SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN💚 on the Treaty Principles bill, here is a submission guide
action.greens.org.nz/tp_subsguide
Happy to help:
Rainbow Greens: LGBTQIA+ members of the Green Party
Inclusive Greens: Disabled and chronically ill members..
Aotearoa Greens Global: overseas connected members..
There are many ways to be invloved with Green politics outside of just province/branch-level politics. We are one of them🤷
Here is an alternative link to our letter to Bündnis90/Die Grünen:
www.greens.org.nz/open_letter_...
