The New Zealand government is serious! A woman was arrested on the spot at the airport! Just because…

New Zealand Chinese Pioneer Comprehensive Report

People who don’t pay their student loans should pay attention

New Zealand government begins to take action

Kiwi, who has lived in Australia for 21 years

Arrested on the spot at the airport

49 years old this yearTe Amo Matangi lives in Australia and has lived for 21 years.

More than 20 years ago, Matangi borrowed a student loan for his studies, but the loan still owed $13,000 to remain unresolved due to failure to complete some courses.

After that,Matangi moved to Australia to work and live.

According to New Zealand policy, if the borrower leaves the country for more than 6 months, interest calculation will begin for student loans.

Over the years, principal and interest have been accumulated, and now the debt has reached a high level.NZD 58,000。

Matangi also received a New Zealand court subpoena asking her to appear in New Zealand at the end of August this year.

Matangi has arranged to go to New Zealand for the courtroom, but before that, she must go to her niece’s birthday.

She returned to New Zealand last Wednesday.

However, the ticket scan triggered an alarm this Monday afternoon when she tried to travel from Christchurch Airport to the Gold Coast with her family.

A police officer confiscated her passport and informed her that police had issued an arrest warrant for her overdue student loans.

She was arrested and taken to the Christchurch Central Police Station, a process she called “weird and unnecessary” because she was not charged with crime.

The next morning, she appeared in the district court via video link.

Even the judge wondered: Why was she here? This is not a criminal case.

However, the Revenue Department (IRD) said it would not release the person unless the payment is paid in full and suggested that she borrow from the lender.

Matangi is still stranded in Christchurch and cannot return to Australia.

She said she had tried to communicate with the tax authorities long before her trip and offered to repay $250 every two weeks, but was rejected.

“They told me that unless they pay at least $700 each time, it would be meaningless, let alone a full payment.”

The tax bureau believes that Matangi has not actively cooperated and therefore has no choice.

Matangi’s attorney Dave Ananth said the client should indeed communicate with the tax authorities earlier, but he was still shocked by the arrest: “I have handled cases with larger amounts and longer arrears and have never seen anyone arrested at the border for this. This is very rare.”

Matangi admitted that she was willing to take responsibility, but the whole process made her feel like she was “forced to go through one level after another.”

She also reminded all New Zealanders overseas: “It is necessary to spend time and communicate well with the tax authorities, and student loan issues cannot be delayed.”

The tax bureau said in a statement that arrests were not the preferred option. “But when all the methods are used up, you can only use this move.”

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