Asylum Seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran Cry as Indonesian Officers Force Them to Leave the Australian Vessel Hermia
IN PHOTO: Asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran cry as Indonesian officers force them to leave the Australian vessel Hermia docked at Indah Kiat port in Merak, Indonesia's Banten province in this April 9, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Aulia Pratama

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key wants the country’s refugee quota to remain the same at 750 despite calls from Amnesty International for an increase. Mr Key said it was more important to settle first those who came to the country rather increase the total refugee quota.

“The issue here is, if we take more will we do a good job?” said the prime minister. Mr Key added that he acknowledged Amnesty International’s appeal since taking refugees is an international problem.

He said New Zealand participates in refugee conferences and gives aid. However, the prime minister explained that increasing New Zealand’s refugee quota will resolve the problem, reports Radio NZ.

Mr Key had previously confirmed that a boat of asylum seekers bound for New Zealand was intercepted off the coast of Australia. Amnesty International’s global Secretary General Salil Shetty said New Zealand would need to show leadership in taking in asylum seekers when it assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council in July.

Shetty added that New Zealand was ranked 87th in the world when it comes refugee figures and the number has not changed in the last 30 years. He said Amnesty International has been urging New Zealand to increase its annual quota by doubling it to 1,500.

The secretary general said Mr Key was right when he said taking in more refugees was not going to “change everything” but increasing the quota would send a signal to the rest of the world.

“One of the big mistakes that the European countries did I think was to wait for all the drownings to happen – thousands of people had to lose their lives in the Mediterranean. I don’t think New Zealand should wait for that to happen,” said Shetty. He added that asylum seekers are already leaving their homes due to persecution. He believes the issue of boat people should be addressed.

The latest annual report of Amnesty International said 2014 was one of the worst years for human rights in recent history. It found that not since the end of the World War II had there been a record number of asylum seekers, reports Stuff.

Shetty said the estimated number of refugees around the world is 52 million. According to Immigration New Zealand, about 14 million have been recognised as refugees.

(To report problems or leave feedback on this article, contact: r.su@ibtimes.com.au)

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