9 Feb 2014

Nauru angered at MP's remarks

8:25 am on 9 February 2014

The government of Nauru is demanding an apology to its people for comments made by a New Zealand MP about detention camps there.

Jan Logie.

Jan Logie. Photo: RNZ

Green Party MP Jan Logie said Nauru's detention centres are a human rights catastrophe and called on Prime Minister John Key to raise the issue during last week's talks in Australia.

In response, Nauru's government issued a statement calling Ms Logie ill-informed and accusing her of promoting a culture of international bullying. It went on to say her comments were irresponsible and fuelled by self-interest.

Ms Logie said it was never her intention to offend the government or people of Nauru - rather, she wanted to open up a dialogue about conditions in the detention centres.

She said she will look again at her original statement, but will not back down on calling for the centres to be closed.