About 800 foreign students had their New Zealand visas revoked in the 12-month period to July 2008, according to Labour Department figures.
But the department says this is a fraction of the 90,000 student visas and permits issued during the period and most leave voluntarily.
Department spokesperson Anita Reedy says less than 5% of the 800 students in question were expelled for criminal activity.
Ms Reedy says most had their visas revoked because they finished their course early or dropped out of their course.
Those ordered out are banned from returning to New Zealand for five years.
Ms Reedy says the department cannot disclose how many students had their flights out of New Zealand paid for by taxpayers, but says the average cost of a removal is between $1,000 and $2,000.
Financial advice
Meanwhile, Auckland schools are jumping at the chance to teach students how to stay out of financial trouble.
Seven secondary schools have signed with the group Savvy, which offers free workshops on financial literacy, debts and saving.
The group was set up by four university students in April last year, and is run by 14 volunteers, all students.
One of the founders, Dipra Ray, says the programme is designed to reach young people.
