The following table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a married or partnered student whose combined income for the week is not more than $569.40:

Item	Circumstances		Value ($)
1	The student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and—
	(a)	the student is childless:	779.99
	(b)	the student has 1 or more supported children	820.69
2	The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, and is not eligible for, a grant, and—
	(a)	the student is childless:	435.67
	(b)	the student has 1 or more supported children	624.21
3	The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, although is eligible for, a grant, and—
	(a)	the student is childless:	378.64
	(b)	the student has 1 or more supported children	419.33
4	The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and receives a grant, and—
	(a)	the student is childless:	378.64
	(b)	the student has 1 or more supported children	399.01

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $284.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

2 Combined income between $569.40 and $1,185.75 for week

(1)

The following table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a married or partnered student whose combined income for the week is more than $569.40:

Item	Circumstances			Value ($)
1	The student is childless and—
	(a)	is living in the same home as their spouse or partner:		221.14
	(b)	is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner		276.89
2	The student has 1 or more supported children and is living in the same home as their spouse or partner, and—
	(a)	the student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course:		258.65
	(b)	the student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and—
		(i)	receives a grant:	239.91
		(ii)	is eligible for but does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant	258.65
3	The student has 1 or more supported children and is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner, and—
	(a)	the student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course:		318.40
	(b)	the student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and—
		(i)	receives a grant:	296.66
		(ii)	is eligible for but does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant	318.40

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $284.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant payable to the student for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

(3)

Despite subclause (1), the basic grant is not payable for the week if the student’s combined income for the week is $1,185.75 or more.

Subpart 2—Single students

3 Basic grant for week for single students

(1)

The following table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a single student:

Item	Circumstances	Value ($)
1	The student has 1 or more supported children	624.21
2	The student is 24 or older, childless, and not living in a parental home	435.67
3	The student is 24 or older, childless, and living in a parental home	367.25
4	The student is under 24, childless, and not living in a parental home	378.64
5	The student is under 24, childless, and living in a parental home	321.64

(2)

However, subclause (1) is subject to subclauses (3) to (6).

(3)

If the student is under 24, childless, not living in a parental home, and the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent exceeds $1,386.71, the value of the basic grant payable for a week to the student specified in item 4 of the table in subclause (1) is reduced by the amount calculated in accordance with the following formula:

(30.30303% × (the amount of item A up to a maximum of $259.51)) + (27.93296% × (any amount of item A exceeding $259.51))

where A is the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent less $1,386.71.

(4)

If the student is under 24, childless, living in a parental home, and the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent exceeds $1,386.71, the value of the basic grant payable for a week to the student specified in item 5 of the table in subclause (1) is reduced by the amount calculated in accordance with the following formula:

(30.30303% × (the amount of item A up to a maximum of $71.41)) + (27.93296% × (any amount of item A exceeding $71.41))

where A is the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent less $1,386.71.

(5)

If the student’s personal income exceeds $284.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant payable for the week to the student is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

(6)

If both subclauses (3) and (5) apply, or both subclauses (4) and (5) apply, the reduction described in subclause (3) or (4) (as the case requires) occurs before the reduction described in subclause (5).

Part 2 Independent circumstances grant

4 Independent circumstances grant for week

(1)

The value of an independent circumstances grant payable for a week to a student is $378.64.

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $284.70 for the week, the value of the independent circumstances grant for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 1 April 2026, amend the Student Allowances Regulations 1998 to—

increase the rates of the basic grants and independent circumstances grants to take account of both mandatory adjustments and discretionary increases:
raise income thresholds:
adjust the amounts by which the basic grant is reduced for students who are single, under 24 years of age, and without children.

The mandatory adjustments reflect a 3.11% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (the CPI) from the December 2024 quarter to the December 2025 quarter (calculated for all quarters using the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (All Groups)).

The CPI increase is rounded to 2 decimal places for the purposes of this Explanatory note. However, the changes to grant rates, income thresholds, and grant reduction amounts have been calculated based on unrounded figures.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 5 March 2026.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Social Development.

Student Allowances Amendment Regulations 2026