NZ to take in hundreds of refugees

Hundreds of Syrian refugees will be welcomed into New Zealand under a special quota intake to be announced by the government on Monday.


Prime Minister John Key has signalled he will take a proposal to cabinet on Monday and will reveal details of the move at a press conference later in the day.
He told TV3's Paul Henry Show that the intake will be in the "hundreds" and will be staggered over several years.


"It is most likely going to be over three years. We have been getting advice from the UN," he said. "People want us to respond."
He said the Syrians will be in addition to its annual quota of 750. The quota will be reviewed next year.


Mr Key also signalled another increase in humanitarian aid for the Syrian crisis. New Zealand has contributed around $15 million so far.


Unicef NZ says another $15 million funding increase would better help the 12 million children caught up in the Syrian refugee crisis.
"I don't think the quota in itself is an answer to the problem happening right across the Middle East and Europe right now," Viv Maidaborn told TV One's Breakfast.
The move would not "materially help the 12 million children who are in deep trouble as a result of the Syrian crisis", she said.


The answer lies in direct funding of aid organisations working in the region, Ms Maidaborn said.
"I think we need to get money into the aid organisations that are on the ground, that know where children are, that can get behind ISIS lines and supply water and food and medicine and help people prepare for winter."


The government's announcement comes after heart-breaking images of a Syrian toddler washing up on a Turkish beach and thousands of refugees trying to reach Germany prompted calls for New Zealand to act.


Labour and the Greens are due to submit a bill on Tuesday to increase the cap to 1500.