The price of a tertiary education soon adds up.
A three-year polytechnic nursing degree costs about $20,000. By comparison, a three-year undergraduate arts or commerce degree at university costs about $15,000.
But that sort of money will only get you a year's undergraduate dentistry or medical school training.
Add in course-related costs, accommodation and general living costs and the only way the majority of students can undertake any tertiary study is by taking out a student loan.
Then, the numbers really spiral.
Recent statistics, including from Inland Revenue, show there are more than 728,000 borrowers, owing a total of almost $15 billion.
The average graduate owes $25,000, medical students rack up about $75,000 of debt, and there are currently more than 5700 borrowers who each owe more than $100,000.
Given the numbers, the median repayment time for New Zealand-based borrowers of six years does not appear too bad (especially given most new graduates will be at the bottom of their earning potential to begin with), but factor in looming hefty mortgage repayments and (ideally) retirement scheme contributions, and the scenario is worrying.
It is understandable some graduates will seek higher-salaried opportunities overseas.
It is desirable that our young people travel, broaden their horizons and gain valuable skills and experience - but ideally they should bring those qualities back.
If they don't, the country pays a high price, socially and financially.
The financial implications for the New Zealand taxpayer are behind the Government's ongoing clampdown on student loan defaulters living overseas, particularly across the Tasman, where the majority of overseas borrowers live.
The Government is slowly clawing back more of its money through measures including a compliance initiative, last year's Student Loan Scheme Amendment Act and a Bill introduced to Parliament this week to allow information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Australian Taxation Office.
New Zealand student loan defaulters living in Australia will be tracked down through their tax payments.
More than $3 billion is believed to be owed by borrowers living overseas.
It is right to target those people who have lived out of the country for years, have effectively turned their backs on New Zealand and the system that educated and financed them, and are not making any attempts to pay back the money.
It brings them into line with New Zealand student loan borrowers making repayments - and who are contributing to the economy here.
Borrowing, budgeting and paying the bills is burdensome, but a fact of life.
The average New Zealander does not enjoy the same leniency over their mortgage, credit card and hire purchase repayments.
There are many who believe tertiary education should be ''free'' and previous generations in this country who benefited from such a system.
But there are significant costs to the taxpayer of providing a ''free'' education, especially with an ageing population and a small workforce to pay the bill.
Putting that argument aside, students are lucky to have a choice of quality institutions and teaching staff.
Most have access to interest-free loans, some can access allowances, benefits, scholarships, grants or awards, and there are zero-fees schemes at various institutions.
The onus is increasingly on students to choose their course of study wisely, consider the employment opportunities - and their ability to pay back their borrowings.
They must be cautious about the appeal of ready money, and to borrow as little as possible.
(Surely advice to live by for anyone.)
For the Government can be expected to seek some return on its investment, or - failing that - to ensure graduates at the very least return their borrowings.
After all, there are countless others who could benefit from the tax take of hard-working New Zealanders, too.
