8 Aug 2013

NZ's Key says his Govt would consider taking refugees from Manus

8:02 am on 8 August 2013

New Zealand's Prime Minister says his country would consider taking refugees processed through Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, but only as part of its United Nations quota.

Australia has an agreement with Papua New Guinea to send any asylum seekers to the Manus Island detention centre.

If found to be genuine, the refugees will be settled in PNG or another country but not in Australia, as part of the federal government's policy to deter boat people.

During a visit by PNG's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, John Key was asked whether New Zealand would consider taking any refugees.

Mr Key said that would be possible, but they would be included in this country's UN quota rather than the 150 refugees New Zealand already has agreed to take from Australia.

"Off the 600, technically speaking, if the UN came along and said, we've got some people here and we want to recommend them to New Zealand, like they could out of Sudan or anywhere else, technically they could be part of that 600."

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key.