11 May 2015

PM continues to defend refugee quota

7:56 pm on 11 May 2015

The Prime Minister is defending New Zealand's refugee quota, saying it is not a numbers game.

John Key's comments follow calls from Amnesty International for the Government to double its quota.

New Zealand has an annual limit of 750 places for refugees on United Nations waiting lists.

Mr Key said the Government worked really hard to make sure refugees were settled properly.

"We're a small country, we have to work our way how we do a really good job for those people.

"So I've always been focused on the quality of service we provide to people when they come, it's a very intensive wrap-around service."

Mr Key said the Government also allowed family reunifications, which meant the quota was actually much greater than 750.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs