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Evidence · Immigration

Immigration: questions, answers and evidence

Read all 797 original answers and the tables behind the findings. The 27 missing answers are from the China comparison on three platforms.

questions
143
captured answers
797
missing responses
27
answers collected
15–20 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 143 questions

Show all 143

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Complete AI answers

    answers.csv

    One complete original answer, with the question, platform, country setting and migrant profile.

    question_id, surface_code, location_ref, result_id, prompt_id, platform, scan_id, collection_panel, question_text, response_text

    797rows

    Download complete ai answers (CSV)

  • The questions we asked

    question-catalogue.csv

    One question with the migrant profile, wording and purpose.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download the questions we asked (CSV)

  • Planned questions, platforms and countries

    execution-assignments.csv

    One question, platform and country we planned to collect an answer from.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    824rows

    Download planned questions, platforms and countries (CSV)

  • The 27 missing answers

    missing-cells.csv

    One expected answer that was not collected.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    27rows

    Download the 27 missing answers (CSV)

  • Locations named for each migrant profile

    location-by-persona.csv

    How often a place was named in the twelve New Zealand answers for each migrant profile.

    persona, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles, wording_count, surface_count

    342rows

    Download locations named for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Locations named across question wordings

    location-by-wording.csv

    One profile, platform and place, showing which versions of the question led to an answer naming the place.

    persona, surface, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles

    1,368rows

    Download locations named across question wordings (CSV)

  • Locations named by collection country

    location-by-region.csv

    One place and country setting; the China comparison has nine answers on Google AI Mode only.

    region, place, answers, denominator, surfaces

    304rows

    Download locations named by collection country (CSV)

  • Eight countries on Google AI Mode

    location-ai-mode-eight-regions.csv

    One place and country across the same nine questions on Google AI Mode.

    region, place, answers, denominator

    304rows

    Download eight countries on google ai mode (CSV)

  • Matched local and overseas answers

    matched-region-answer-pairs.csv

    A New Zealand answer alongside the same question and platform using another country setting.

    region, surface, persona, question_id, result_id, nz_result_id, same_place_set, jaccard, added_names, omitted_names

    261rows

    Download matched local and overseas answers (CSV)

  • Topics explicitly raised in the answers

    signals-by-output-platform.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by topic and platform.

    output, surface, signal, answers, denominator

    1,120rows

    Download topics explicitly raised in the answers (CSV)

  • Topics raised for each migrant profile

    signals-by-persona-output.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by migrant profile and topic.

    output, persona, signal, answers, denominator

    1,876rows

    Download topics raised for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Website addresses in captured answers

    captured-answer-links.csv

    Web addresses saved in the original answers, with image and file links identified.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, url, domain, host_class, image_or_asset

    2,003rows

    Download website addresses in captured answers (CSV)

  • Extra table: links excluding images and files

    captured-links-by-platform.csv

    One platform across the same 143 New Zealand questions. The table excludes image and file links; the main Sources section counts those links.

    surface, denominator, answers_with_links, answers_with_govt_links

    4rows

    Download extra table: links excluding images and files (CSV)

  • Captured answer lengths

    platform-answer-length.csv

    One platform across the same 143 local questions.

    surface, answers, median_words, mean_words

    4rows

    Download captured answer lengths (CSV)

  • Recorded websites by answer

    sources-by-answer.csv

    Each website recorded as a source for an answer, with the page addresses and number of statements linked to the website.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, publisher, claim_count, source_urls

    1,462rows

    Download recorded websites by answer (CSV)

  • Recorded sources and their original claims

    source-claim-ledger.csv

    Sources attached to individual statements, with the original answer, quotation and source passage.

    narrative_id, claim_id, question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, url, source_passage, claim_quote, quote_exact

    3,105rows

    Download recorded sources and their original claims (CSV)

  • Answers with sources and answers with links

    source-answer-coverage.csv

    Each New Zealand answer, showing whether sources were recorded and whether the answer text contains a web link.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, associated_websites, had_sources, literal_url_answer

    572rows

    Download answers with sources and answers with links (CSV)

  • Website publisher classifications

    source-publisher-classification.csv

    Each website, the type of organisation behind the website and the reason for the category. Unconfirmed types remain Other.

    domain, publisher, basis, source

    332rows

    Download website publisher classifications (CSV)

  • Tone toward each place

    place-sentiment-ledger.csv

    One named place in one answer, with the positive, neutral, negative or mixed label, supporting passages and reason. All 108 New Zealand answers about where to live were reviewed.

    result_id, question_id, prompt_id, persona, assistant, region, place, stance, paragraph_numbers, supporting_passages, display_passage, reason, answer_sha256, reviewed_on

    630rows

    Download tone toward each place (CSV)

  • Facts supplied in each question

    prompt-reporting-eligibility.csv

    Every question, with corrected descriptions of the facts stated and limits on interpreting its answers.

    question_id, reviewed_on, prompt_sha256, original_stated_facts, corrected_stated_facts, metadata_changed, destination_explicit, descriptive_counts_included, interpretation_rule

    143rows

    Download facts supplied in each question (CSV)

  • Sources across question styles

    source-wording-incidence.csv

    One website, profile, topic and platform, with answer totals, question styles and the original answer references.

    persona, output, surface, domain, answers_with_source, eligible_answers, wording_styles_with_source, eligible_wording_styles, observed_styles, eligible_styles, answer_ids, by_style

    2,144rows

    Download sources across question styles (CSV)

  • Questions with corrected fact descriptions

    question-catalogue-reviewed.csv

    The unchanged original question text with fact descriptions reviewed on 28 October 2026.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download questions with corrected fact descriptions (CSV)

  • Statements checked against official sources

    statement-checks.csv

    One checked statement, with its exact passage, verdict, official source, review date and original answer reference.

    check_id, measure_id, question_checked, result_id, prompt_id, question_id, persona, assistant, wording, exact_statement, verdict, what_the_source_says, source_name, source_url, checked_on, answer_sha256

    47rows

    Download statements checked against official sources (CSV)

  • Policy questions covered by the checks

    statement-measures.csv

    One policy question, showing checked statements, original answers and the question wordings represented.

    measure_id, question_checked, checked_statements, distinct_answers, wording_styles_with_checked_assertions, wording_styles, answer_ids, question_ids, scope

    27rows

    Download policy questions covered by the checks (CSV)

Use the question and answer numbers to follow the evidence between tables. Locations named in warnings and comparisons count. Sources attached to an answer and web links in the answer text are counted separately.

03

The reviewed evidence

We read all 108 New Zealand answers about where to live to assess the tone toward each named place. A separate selection of 41 answers explores practical advice and contrasts across topics. The original policy checks were made on 22 October and expanded on 28 October 2026; verdicts cover selected statements, not every answer.

ChatGPT · New Zealand country setting

I'd be studying at postgraduate level on a tight budget. What parts of student life are likely to be hardest for me, and where could I get help?

If you’re studying at postgraduate level in New Zealand on a tight budget, the hardest parts of student life are likely to be managing living costs, balancing study with paid work, and staying connected and supported when the workload gets intense. Postgraduate study can be especially demanding because you may have independent research, substantial reading, deadlines and, depending on your programme, fewer opportunities for structured class time.

The good news is that there are several places to seek help, and you don't need to be in a crisis to use them. The key is to find out what you're eligible for early, before financial or academic pressure builds up.

The five biggest challenges — and where to get help

1. Paying for rent, food and study costs

Often the biggest pressure

Rent, groceries, transport, power and course materials can consume most of a limited income. Unexpected expenses — a laptop repair, dental bill or bond payment — can be particularly difficult.

Where to get help

  • StudyLink — check eligibility for student loans, living costs and other assistance. Eligibility depends on your course, residency and circumstances. How StudyLink worksPayments available
  • MoneyTalks — free, confidential financial mentoring. Call 0800 345 123 or text 4029. MoneyTalks free financial helpline
  • Your university's student association or student support office — ask about emergency grants, food parcels, hardship funds and low-cost meals.

2. Balancing paid work with postgraduate study

Postgraduate courses can involve independent research, long reading lists and deadlines that don't fit neatly around work shifts. Working too many hours may affect your progress, while working too few may leave you short of money.

Where to get help

  • Ask your supervisor or programme coordinator to clarify workload, milestones and which deadlines are flexible.
  • Check your university's careers service for campus jobs, research assistantships, tutoring and relevant part-time work.
  • If you're considering reducing your study load, check the academic, visa and financial consequences first. Part-time study can change your eligibility for student support. Payments availableHow to pay for study

3. Academic pressure and research uncertainty

At postgraduate level, you may need to work more independently, manage a thesis or dissertation, and meet expectations around academic writing and research methods. It can be hard to know whether you're making enough progress.

Where to get help

  • Your supervisor: agree on regular meetings, clear milestones and realistic expectations.
  • University library: ask about literature searches, referencing software, research databases and academic writing workshops.
  • Learning support or postgraduate research office: look for statistics help, thesis-writing groups, peer mentoring and research-skills sessions.

These services are often included in your university fees, so check what's available before paying for private tutoring or editing.

4. Loneliness, stress and missing out socially

A tight budget can mean saying no to cafés, events, travel and social activities. Research students may also spend long periods working alone. Over time, financial stress and isolation can affect your motivation and wellbeing.

Where to get help

  • University counselling and wellbeing services; ask whether sessions are free or subsidised.
  • Postgraduate student groups, clubs, peer networks and free campus events.
  • Community groups, public libraries and free outdoor activities for ways to connect without spending much.

You don't have to wait until you're overwhelmed to talk to someone.

5. Navigating financial support and unexpected setbacks

Student funding can be confusing, particularly if you're returning to study, studying at master's or doctoral level, supporting a family, or paying international tuition fees. A funding gap can be especially stressful if a payment is delayed or your circumstances change.

Where to get help

What financial support is actually available?

One important detail: postgraduate students should check funding eligibility before building their budget around government assistance. Not every qualification qualifies for the same support.

Type of support What to know
Student Allowance A payment you don't repay, but eligibility depends on your course, age, income and residency, among other criteria.
Student Loan May cover eligible fees, course-related costs and living costs. Borrowed money must be repaid.
Scholarships and research stipends Check university awards and subject-specific postgraduate funding.
Hardship assistance Your university or community organisations may have help for urgent expenses.
Free budgeting advice MoneyTalks can help you work out a realistic budget and find other services.

Official starting points: StudyLink payments, postgraduate scholarships and MoneyTalks. Payments availablePostgraduate scholarships | Universities New ZealandMoneyTalks free financial helpline

My recommended first steps

  1. Before enrolling: calculate your essential monthly costs and confirm your tuition fees and funding options.
  2. In your first few weeks: contact student support and ask specifically about postgraduate hardship funds, scholarships, food support and counselling.
  3. Set up a sustainable study routine: agree on research milestones and protect time for rest, rather than relying on extra work hours to make ends meet.
  4. Get help early: if you are struggling to cover food or rent, contact your university and MoneyTalks before the situation becomes urgent.

I can make this more specific to your situation

The best advice will depend on what you're studying and your financial circumstances. Are you planning to study as a domestic student or an international student, and will your postgraduate qualification be a taught master's, a research master's or a PhD? Those details make a substantial difference to which funding and support options are available.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand country setting

I'd be studying at postgraduate level on a tight budget. What parts of student life are likely to be hardest for me, and where could I get help?

Studying at a postgraduate level on a tight budget in New Zealand brings a distinct set of pressures. Because postgraduate study often involves independent research, fewer contact hours, and higher academic expectations, the daily realities can look quite different from undergraduate life.

What Parts of Student Life Are Likely to Be Hardest?

  1. The Income Drop vs. Cost-of-Living Squeeze
    Postgraduate students are frequently older, meaning many have transitioned away from family support or are used to a full-time salary. Rent, grocery prices, and utilities across New Zealand have risen steeply. If you rely solely on standard student support or part-time work, matching inflation-driven living costs is a constant tightrope walk.
  2. The "Postgrad Isolation" and Time Trap
    Unlike undergraduate degrees with large lecture cohorts, postgrad life (especially Honours, Masters by thesis, or PhDs) can be solitary. You might spend long hours alone in a lab, library, or at home. At the same time, because the workload is self-directed, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking without realizing your mental and physical health—or your budget—is suffering.
  3. Unexpected Course and Research Costs
    While tuition fees are budgeted for, postgraduate studies often spring hidden expenses on you: specialized software, transcription services, binding theses, conference travel, or specific data-gathering materials. These add up quickly when every dollar is accounted for.
  4. Exclusion from Certain Standard Supports
    Depending on your exact age, course load (e.g., part-time vs. full-time research), and whether you’ve already used up your lifetime limits for government support, you may find yourself with fewer safety nets than younger undergraduates.

Where Can You Get Help?

Fortunately, New Zealand has structured layers of support specifically designed to catch students facing financial strain:

1. Government Support (StudyLink & Work and Income)

  • StudyLink Living Costs / Student Allowance: If you are studying full-time in an approved postgraduate program, check your eligibility for a Student Allowance (which doesn't have to be paid back) or Student Loan living costs.
  • Urgent Costs / Special Needs Grants: If you face an unexpected bill (like a sudden car repair, medical prescription, or emergency dental work) while receiving student payments, StudyLink or Work and Income (WINZ) can sometimes provide non-payable grants for urgent needs.
  • Accommodation Supplement or Benefit: Depending on your income and whether you qualify for an allowance, you may be entitled to extra help towards rent or boarding.

2. University Student Associations & Hardship Funds

Every major New Zealand university (e.g.,オークランド / Auckland, オタゴ / Otago, カンタベリー / Canterbury, etc.) has a Student Association (such as OUSA, UCSA, VSA, etc.) with dedicated welfare and support hubs.

  • Hardship Grants and Emergency Funds: Universities maintain confidential financial hardship funds for unexpected crises. These can often cover critical bills, grocery vouchers, or temporary accommodation assistance.
  • Campus Foodbanks: Most student associations run on-campus foodbanks or low-cost pantries specifically to ease weekly grocery burdens.
  • Free Advocacy Services: Student association advocates can look over your budget, help you negotiate with landlords or utilities, and guide you through applying for emergency assistance.

3. Health and Wellbeing Support

  • Community Services Card: Apply for a Community Services Card through MSD if your income falls below the threshold. It significantly slashes the cost of GP visits, prescriptions, and public transport in many regions.
  • Free Counseling: Tertiary institutions offer free or heavily subsidized counseling and mental health services. Financial stress takes a heavy psychological toll; utilizing these campus resources prevents burnout.

4. Targeted Postgraduate Scholarships

Check your university’s scholarships office database specifically for completion grants, research support bursaries, or postgraduate equity scholarships. Many departments hold small, lesser-known pool funds designated for students in the final stretch of their thesis who are facing financial hardship.

Are you moving to a specific university town in New Zealand for your postgraduate studies, or trying to navigate a particular financial hurdle right now?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand country setting

I'd be studying at postgraduate level on a tight budget. What parts of student life are likely to be hardest for me, and where could I get help?

Embarking on postgraduate study in New Zealand on a tight budget is a formidable balancing act. Moving beyond undergraduate structures means expectations change significantly, and financial strains are uniquely amplified.

The Hardest Parts of Postgraduate Student Life

  • Financial Exclusion and Debt Accumulation: Unlike undergraduate study, standard StudyLink Student Allowances are generally not available for most postgraduate programs (with rare exceptions like a Bachelor with Honours). You will likely rely heavily on StudyLink Student Loan living cost components, which directly increase your long-term debt, or strict part-time work alongside intense research.

  • Time-Poverty vs. Income Needs: Postgraduate workloads demand a massive step up in independent research, critical analysis, and self-direction. Trying to squeeze in enough working hours to cover soaring rent, groceries, and bills in Aotearoa can severely cannibalize the time needed for high-level academic writing and data collection.

  • Academic and Social Isolation: Postgraduate cohorts are often smaller, and people are hyper-focused on their specific theses, dissertations, or projects. The structured community feel of undergraduate lectures disappears, frequently leading to isolation and burnout.

  • Escalating Living and Resource Costs: Specialized software, printing, lab materials, or travel for archival/field research can nick-and-dime a tight budget faster than expected, costs that aren't always factored into general student loan calculations.

Where to Get Help in New Zealand

  • University Student Associations and Hardship Funds: Every tertiary institution in Aotearoa has a Students' Association (e.g., NZUSA-affiliated bodies) and dedicated campus welfare teams. They manage immediate, confidential Hardship Grants or temporary food bank services for students in crisis.

  • StudyLink and Government Support Entitlements: Check your eligibility via StudyLink for course-related costs or specialized assistance. If you hit severe, unexpected destitution between study periods, look into options like Jobseeker Support Student Hardship. Additionally, apply for a Community Services Card to dramatically lower GP visits, prescriptions, and tap into Community Connect public transport fare concessions (50% off).

  • Internal University Scholarships and Trusts: Don't just look at the headline, highly competitive entrance scholarships. Reach out to your specific department coordinator or scholarships office to hunt down smaller, lesser-known, or completion-stage grants that routinely receive fewer applicants.

  • Campus Academic and Mental Health Support: Lean heavily on free campus learning-advising workshops for structuring advanced research, and utilize student-led or institutional counselling services early before stress translates into academic failure.

  • Wellbeing and Transition Guides: Platforms like NauMai NZ offer practical localized guidance on budgeting, healthcare, and adapting to student life in New Zealand.

To help me narrow this down, could you let me know:

  • What specific field or type of postgraduate qualification (e.g., PGDip, Masters, PhD) you are planning to study?
  • Whether you are enrolling full-time or part-time?
Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand country setting

I'd be studying at postgraduate level on a tight budget. What parts of student life are likely to be hardest for me, and where could I get help?

AI Overview

Pursuing postgraduate study on a tight budget in New Zealand is a rewarding but demanding undertaking. Striking a balance between rigorous research and financial constraints can create specific pressure points.

Housing costs, the high price of groceries, and balancing high academic workloads with restricted working hours are typically the hardest parts of postgraduate student life in New Zealand.

Here is a breakdown of the specific challenges you will likely face and the systems available to help you navigate them.

1. High Accommodation and Living Expenses

  • The Challenge: Housing is the largest weekly expense. Finding affordable rentals or "flatting" (sharing a house with roomies) is notoriously competitive. Additionally, everyday goods like groceries can quickly drain a limited budget.
  • Where to Get Help:
  • Student Associations: Every major university has a student union or association (e.g., AUSA, VUWSA, UCSA). They frequently run free student food banks , community pantries, and "free breakfast" initiatives during exam periods.
  • Hardship Funds: Universities maintain internal Student Hardship Grants for unexpected financial emergencies (e.g., emergency dental care, sudden medical bills, or temporary housing shortfalls).
  • Study with New Zealand Resources: Utilize the budgeting calculators and student living guides provided by Study with New Zealand to baseline your expenses.

2. Work Restrictions vs. Intense Academic Workloads

  • The Challenge: If you are an international student, your student visa limits you to 20 hours of work per week during term time (unless you are a PhD or Research Master's student, who often have unrestricted work hours). However, the intense self-motivation and research volume expected at the postgraduate level can make working even 15 to 20 hours highly exhausting.
  • Where to Get Help:
  • On-Campus Employment: Look for internal roles like Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) , tutor, or research assistant. These roles pay well above minimum wage, understand your study schedule, and eliminate commuting costs.
  • University Career Centers: They offer free CV tailoring, interview practice, and exclusive job boards listing student-friendly, flexible local employment.

3. Isolation and Mental Burnout

  • The Challenge: Postgraduate study is highly independent and can feel isolating compared to undergraduate programs. Financial stress compounds this by limiting your ability to pay for social outings, travel, or leisure activities.
  • Where to Get Help:
  • Postgraduate Associations (PGSAs): Most universities have dedicated postgraduate boards that host free or highly subsidized social mixers, writing boot camps, and thesis support networks specifically to keep you connected.
  • Campus Health and Counselling: All New Zealand institutions provide free or deeply subsidized professional counseling and mental health services to students.

Comparison of Student Budgeting Options

Assistance Type Best Used For Where to Access
Student Hardship Grants Emergency cash, sudden rental deficits, or medical bills. University Student Services office.
Food Banks / Pantries Supplementing weekly grocery budgets when funds are low. Student Union / Student Association hubs.
GTA / Tutoring Positions Earning income that aligns perfectly with academic breaks. University departmental job boards.
Student Discounts Saving on public transport, software, and retail items. UNiDAYS app or your official Student ID card.

To help tailor this advice, could you share if you will be an international or domestic student, and whether your program is taught or thesis-based? Let me know and I can pinpoint specific funding pools for you.

Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026