The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations has told MPs that proposed legislation to crack down on student loan defaulters is wrong-headed.
The bill would mean people can be arrested at the border if they refuse to pay back their student loan.
The legislation is being considered by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.
Students' Associations executive director Alistair Shaw told the committee on Wednesday morning that people who want to avoid arrest will simply travel on another passport.
" [The legislation] will affect less than 40% of overseas-based borrowers who are non compliant because more than 60% currently have some other passport to travel on," he said.
