{
  "id": 3071837,
  "title": "Student loan borrower number climbs along with amount loaned",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/student-loan-borrower-number-climbs-along-with-amount-loaned",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T16:38:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/education/1109828/student-loan-borrower-number-climbs-along-with-amount-loaned"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the first quarter of the year, 126,696 people borrowed from the student loan scheme, marking a 12 percent increase from the same period last year. The total amount borrowed reached $1.145 billion, a 19 percent rise or $184 million more than in 2025. Students borrowed more for fees, with a 13 percent rise in borrowing for this purpose compared to the previous year. The amounts borrowed for living costs and course-related costs also saw significant increases of 11 and 10 percent, respectively.\n\nThe trend of more borrowers begins in 2024, a shift from the long-term decline in active borrower numbers. This increase in borrowers is likely driven by the economy's performance and a slowdown in the job market. When employment opportunities are limited, more people tend to choose studying or remain in education.\n\nThe number of borrowers with overdue payments decreased by 4 percent compared to the same period last year, with 75 percent of these delinquencies originating from overseas-based borrowers. As of March 31, the total overdue amount stood at $2.7 billion, with over 46 percent ($1.2 billion) of this debt consisting of penalties and interest. Notably, 37,500 people received student allowances, an eight percent increase from the previous year.",
  "summary": "An Education Ministry report said 126,696 people borrowed from the student loan scheme in the first three months of the year, 12 percent more than last year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}