The Greens are warning student debt is stopping New Zealanders coming home for Christmas.

Its survey of 400 expat Kiwis found 71 percent were overdue on payments - and 82 percent are worried about their loan.

The Green Party's calling for a cross-Parliament inquiry into the repayment scheme for Kiwis living overseas.

Spokesperson Lawrence Xu-Nan told Ryan Bridge that inflexible repayment schemes, interest rates and penalty fees are driving people away.

He says these are people with skills gained overseas we want to eventually attract back to contribute to New Zealand.

LISTEN ABOVE