Our 1 April changes will see students receive a bit more in their pocket to help with the cost of living.
$20 extra for student allowance and student loan living cost payments
Both the Student Allowance and Student Loan Living Costs are increasing by around $20 from 1 April, helping more than 50,000 students so they can focus on what’s important – their studies. We’re also boosting the minimum wage to $22.70 an hour, so people who work while they study can earn more each week.
This support for students is part of a suite of changes coming into force on 1 April that will see more than a million New Zealanders receive a bit more in their pocket to help with cost of living pressures.
In a global cost of living crisis every bit counts when making ends meet. While there’s no easy fix, we’re taking a range of actions to ease the pressure – and our 1 April changes are the next step.
Our boost for the Student Allowance and Student Loan Living Costs is just the latest step in our work to support students and young adults.
We made the first year of tertiary study fees free and introduced free apprenticeships and targeted trades training. We believe everyone should have access to healthy housing, so we’ve taken steps to make renting fairer and we’re requiring landlords to ensure their properties meet minimum standards for warmth and dryness. We’ve also boosted frontline mental health support in tertiary education, so more young people can get the support they need.
You can learn more about how the 1 April changes will help New Zealanders with the cost of living, here.