Melbourne job · NZ loan kept interest-free

Australian pay, New Zealand loan, quarterly returns

Employed by Kraken's Australian entity. Night flights each way. Any part-day on the ground in NZ counts as a full NZ day (Student Loan Scheme Act s 24). The 32-day / 184-day test is only for the student loan, not tax residency. Staying with parents in Wellington is cheaper, and is also a permanent-place-of-abode fact. Money in NZD and AUD.

Your inputs

Australian income

Kraken listing range was $119k–$150k plus 12% super.

% on top

SG rate is 12% from 1 July 2025 onward.

/wk

Only counted when the box above is unticked. Basic hospital cover often costs less than the surcharge at this income.

NZ student loan

Ticked: interest-free, you pay 12% of worldwide income above the threshold yourself. Unticked: 5.6% interest + a fixed minimum that does not drop if the balance later falls.

$24,128 for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 tax years (year ending 31 March).

Working while in NZ
Confirm with Kraken/HR. Repeated multi-week NZ work blocks can raise payroll, workers-comp and (if long-term) permanent-establishment questions. Get it in writing.
Return trips to NZ

Assumes a night WLG→MEL the evening before, so that calendar date is your last NZ day.

days

MEL evening, land WLG next morning. Return: WLG evening, land MEL next morning. Landing morning and NZ departure date both count as NZ days.

Each visit = 2 flights. MEL–WLG one-way: cheap ~$160, typical ~$250, Dec peak ~$410+.

Does not cancel the Melbourne gym line unless you freeze it.

/day

Weekly living costs (AUD, Melbourne)
/wk
/wk
/wk
/wk
/wk
/wk
/wk

Rent, gym, utilities and hospital cover are billed 52 weeks even while you are in NZ. Food and Melbourne transport are charged only for days you are actually in Melbourne.

Rates (editable)

%
Take-home / week
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Leftover / week
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Loan clear time
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Salary & remote-work check

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IRD 32-day / 184-day rule check

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NZ tax-residency / permanent place of abode

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Your NZ visit schedule (next 12 months)

Flight cost range (per trip and per year)

ScenarioOne-wayPer trip (2 legs)Per year (all trips)

Gross to take-home (annual)

Where it goes (yearly, both currencies)

ItemAUD/yrNZD/yrAUD/wk

AUD/wk column is the annual amount ÷ 52, matching how rent and gym are billed.

The loan decision: interest-free vs overseas

ApproachInterest (NZD)Clears in

Total compensation

Estimates only, not tax or financial advice. AU tax: 2026–27 resident brackets + 2% Medicare + MLS if no hospital cover.
NZ loan: s 24 partial days count in full; 32 days in every 184-day period; 12% above $24,128 if NZ-based; 5.6% overseas interest from 1 Apr 2026.
Tax residency is a different test (183 days or a permanent place of abode). This page does not model NZ tax or a DTA top-up.