Immigration Act 2009, ss 48, 55 INZ Operational Manual: Temporary Entry, E6, U3.20–3.25
To get a Student Visa, you must meet these financial requirements:
Living costs – Usually you must either:
have enough money to live on while in New Zealand (for courses less than 36 weeks, you must have at least NZ$1,250 a month less any prepaid living expenses, while for courses of 36 weeks or more you must have at least NZ$15,000 a year less prepaid expenses), or
be sponsored by a friend or relative, or by an organisation or a New Zealand government agency.
Leaving NZ – Usually you must either:
already have a plane ticket out of New Zealand or the means to buy one, or
be sponsored.