Student Allowances Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025
2025/307
Student Allowances Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025
Cindy Kiro, Governor-General
Order in Council
At Wellington this 8th day of December 2025
Present:
Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council
These regulations are made under section 645 of the Education and Training Act 2020 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.
Regulations
1 Title
These regulations are the Student Allowances Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025.
2 Commencement
These regulations come into force on 2 March 2026.
3 Principal regulations
These regulations amend the Student Allowances Regulations 1998.
4 Regulation 24A amended (Amount of accommodation benefit for single student with supported child)
Replace regulation 24A(3) with:
(3)
For the purposes of subclause (2), the appropriate rate of accommodation supplement must be determined as provided in subclauses (3A) and (3B).
(3A)
If, under section 65(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 2018, the student does not meet the assets requirement (as set out in regulations made under section 423 of that Act), the appropriate rate of accommodation supplement is zero.
(3B)
If, under section 65(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 2018, the student meets the assets requirement (as set out in regulations made under section 423 of that Act), the appropriate rate of accommodation supplement must be determined in accordance with the following legislation:
(a)
section 17 and Part 7 of Schedule 4 of that Act; and
(b)
regulations made under section 423 of that Act.
5 Schedule 1 amended
In Schedule 1,—
(a)
insert the Part set out in the Schedule of these regulations as the last Part; and
(b)
make all necessary consequential amendments.
Schedule New Part 8 inserted into Schedule 1
Part 8 Provisions relating to Student Allowances Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025
8 Interpretation
In this Part, amendment regulations means the Student Allowances Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025.
9 How Ministry must decide accommodation benefit application made, but not decided, before 2 March 2026
(1)
This clause applies if, before 2 March 2026,—
(a)
an application for an accommodation benefit was made; and
(b)
the application—
(i)
was not withdrawn; and
(ii)
did not lapse; and
(c)
the Ministry did not make a decision in relation to the application.
(2)
The amendment made to regulation 24A by the amendment regulations does not apply for the purposes of the Ministry deciding the application.
10 Transitional provision for persons granted accommodation benefit before 2 March 2026
(1)
This clause applies to a person who—
(a)
was receiving an accommodation benefit under these regulations immediately before 2 March 2026; or
(b)
was granted an accommodation benefit under these regulations before 2 March 2026 that—
(i)
commences on or after 2 March 2026; or
(ii)
immediately before 2 March 2026, was subject to a suspension.
(2)
The amendment made to regulation 24A by the amendment regulations applies to the person for weeks starting on or after 2 March 2026.
(3)
This clause is subject to clause 9.
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 2 March 2026, amend the Student Allowances Regulations 1998 (the principal regulations) to reflect the commencement of the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Act 2025 (the amendment Act), which amends the Social Security Act 2018 (the principal Act). The amendment Act changes the way that the Ministry of Social Development recognises boarders’ contributions when considering if a person is eligible for, and the rate payable for, an accommodation supplement.
These regulations update regulation 24A of the principal regulations to provide that the rate of any accommodation benefit that may be payable to a single student with 1 or more supported children and who meets the assets requirement to receive an accommodation supplement must be determined in accordance with Part 7 of Schedule 4 of the principal Act (as amended by the amendment Act) and other specified legislation. These regulations also clarify that the rate of the accommodation benefit for a student with 1 or more supported children who is otherwise eligible for the accommodation benefit but who does not meet the assets requirement is zero.
Date of notification in Gazette: 11 December 2025.
These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Social Development.