The New Zealand Green Party is calling on New Zealand prime minister, John Key, to raise the issue of what it calls the disgraceful detention centres on Nauru when he meets his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott.
Mr Key's two-day Australian visit comes after Nauru's controversial removal of top judicial officials and the hiking of journalists' visa application fees to prohibitive levels.
The Green Party's human rights spokesperson, Jan Logie, says Nauru is descending into a state of chaos and ignoring the rule of law while children continue to suffer in the Australian-run detention camps.
She says the camps should be shut down.
Ms Logie says Mr Key needs to take a stand for human rights and push for more humane solutions to refugees than housing them in detention camps.
"To be honest I am not hopeful that he is going to raise it but that is not going to stop us raising it because the principle of human rights and regional security are too important to ignore, and New Zealand traditionally has made that commitment and stood up for the underdog and human rights and it would be great if John Key would return to doing that."
The Green Party's human rights spokesperson, Jan Logie,
