Transcript
The offer for 150 refugees each year was first made in 2013 but never taken up, purportedly over fears the refugees would use New Zealand as a back door to enter Australia.
On Manus, a group of refugees staged a protest this week calling for Canberra to take up the offer.
Pakistani refugee Yasir Hussain said opposition parties should introduce a bill to force the issue.
"Please, please, please, now is the time that the government doesn't have that much power in parliament. We all think it's the time if you really want us to be free before the Liberal tenure finishes."
The Labour opposition party has indicated it will accept New Zealand's offer if it wins this year's general election.
Tacit campaigning has already begun, with the government branding the refugees criminals in the hope of arousing support for prolonging their detention and the Liberal Party's grasp on power.
But at the protest, Sri Lankan refugee Shaminda Kanapathi pointed out the refugees had been detained without trial.
"I have not committed any crime but seeking asylum in Australia."
Mr Hussain also sought to refute the government's line.
"We are not terrorists, we are not rapists we are not these kinds of people. We have a lot of educated and skillful people in here. We think that we can play an important role in the economy of New Zealand."
Mr Kanapathi agreed that New Zealand would benefit from resettling the refugees
"We will be very grateful and productive citizens for the New Zealand government. There are many educated and talented young men among us yet their talents have been dumped and wasted on Manus and Nauru."
At the protest the refugees unfurled a banner that read "Be Human, let us go to New Zealand."
