Some students associations are still enrolling all students at their tertiary institutions, despite a law that bans compulsory association membership.
They say every student at their institution is a member - but they do not have to pay for the privilege.
The associations have stopped charging membership fees and are instead getting money from contracts with tertiary institutions to provide student services.
They are automatically giving all students who enrol at their tertiary institution access to those services - considering them to be members.
Those taking this approach include the Otago University Students Association, which says no money is changing hands and the arrangement is legal.
The Union of Students Associations says the approach gives students the same rights they had before the voluntary membership law was passed last year.