The head of Amnesty International New Zealand is disappointed the Prime Minister has said there are no plans to increase the country's refugee quota.
Refugees from Afghanistan at the Mangere Refugee Centre in Auckland. Photo: AFP
John Key made the comment at the Istanbul Peace Summit on Friday.
New Zealand has an annual limit of 750 places for refugees on UN waiting lists.
Amnesty New Zealand head Grant Bayldon said it was especially important on Anzac Day not to forget that civilians suffer much of the horror of war and conflict.
"There's a way that New Zealand really can play its part on the international stage, by doing its fair share and taking refugees," he said.
"That's more important than ever. While New Zealand's on the [UN] Security Council, it can't expect other countries to do their fair share, helping out and resettling refugees for conflicts, if it's not doing its fair share."
Mr Bayldon said New Zealand had not increased its refugee quota for 30 years.
Prime Minister John Key - speaking at the Istanbul Peace Summit. Photo: Jacob Resneck
Mr Key said at the summit that successive governments had worked hard to ensure refugees were well adjusted to New Zealand life and had all the resources they needed - and the number was about right.
He said he believed New Zealand could, however, do more in terms of humanitarian aid.
