The Average New Zealand student:

Owes $28,000+ in Debt.
Lives away from home.
Receives little financial support from family.
Works part time. (around 15 hours a week) often for minimum wage.
Doesn’t qualify for a student allowance.

The rich student:

Owes nothing in debt. Either their parents have paid their entire way through or they have a scholarship (often because their parents have paid for extra school lessons).
Either lives at home or away from home. Pays nothing in rent because parents cover it all.
Receives full financial support from family.
Doesn’t work part time. They can therefore spend more time on studies and do better.
Qualifiers for a student allowance because their families have creative accountants who tie all the money up in trusts, investments, and company expenses.

My situation:

32,000 in debt.
Lives away from home.
Receives no financial support from family.
Worked 20 hours a week while studying.
Did not qualify for a student allowance.