23 Mar 2015

'Open mind' on refugee numbers

11:18 am on 23 March 2015

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says the Government is open to revising the number of refugees New Zealand accepts each year.

Michael Woodhouse

Michael Woodhouse Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy told TV3's The Nation that New Zealand should lift its game by resettling more refugees.

She said it was unnacceptable that the country accepted only 750 refugees a year.

MrWoodhouse said the the Government's approach was to resettle who it can.

The Government reviewed the number of quota refugees New Zealand takes every three years and the next opportunity was early next year, he told Morning Report.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs and I would make a recommendation to cabinet.

"I can't rule out a change in the number of refugees that we accept in the future and I keep an open mind about that."

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