Refugee crisis - what can New Zealand do?

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New Zealand needs to double the number of refugees accepted if there is to be a long-term benefit from the "swell of enthusiasm" and support for refugees from Syria over the last week.

A NZME discussion held today on the refugee crisis, hosted by broadcaster Rachel Smalley, delved into topics such as the cost of refugees, whether New Zealand is doing enough to help the global situation, and how to help refugees long term.

David Shearer talks about the refugee crisis and New Zealand's response. Photo / Greg Bowker

Labour spokesman for Foreign Affairs David Shearer said the discussion around refugee quotas last week was "about what it is to be a New Zealander... compassion".

"We could have done better," he said.

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The Government wouldn't take more refugees because of "a whole bunch of bureaucratic reasons", he said.

His comments were made in response to business adviser Bruce Coterrill saying New Zealand should be "looking for the right [refugees]".

"We want our leaders to make good decisions," Mr Coterrill said.

The discussion was streamed live on nzherald.co.nz and live on air on NewstalkZB.

Radio presenter Smalley said it had been "an emotive few days".

Psychologist Ann Hood assists with integrating refugees into New Zealand society and said New Zealand has the capability to accept more refugees.

It takes several years for refugees to assimilate into society and the momentum of support for refugees the country is seeing currently needs to be maintained, Dr Hood said.

"While we have this swell of enthusiasm at the moment... we need to start looking at what needs to be developed so it's not a one-off."

There is more capacity in regions outside Auckland for more refugees, Dr Hood said.

"For them to see a smiling face, to be welcomed, to feel included, to be respected and valued from the community they've moved to is hugely important."

There was a screening process with Immigration New Zealand for all refugees before they leave the country they are in come to New Zealand, she said.

"People can be reassured they are not going to be overrun by IS," she said.

Amnesty International New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the Government needs to work to double the refugee quota.

The level-headed and more permanent response is to double the quota, he said.

Refugees were often contributing to the economy in a number of ways, Mr Bayldon said.

"I'd really challenge the view that refugees are a burden on our economy."

Economist and author Shamubeel Eaqub said refugees were able to contribute to the economy as long as the support networks were in place.

It wasn't a case of whether the money spent integrating refugees into New Zealand would be better well spent in humanitarian aid, he said.

"I think it's frustrating to say we should only be doing it in terms of the people who are there and not the people who have escaped... this is about our moral values," he said.

Kaz Eskerie, 29, came to New Zealand at age 13 as a refugee from Iraq, his family fleeing Saddam Hussein.

"It was just brilliant, so humbling to come to a country like New Zealand," he said.

He calls himself 'Kiwi-Kurdish' but thinks of Iraq as home, he said.

People in New Zealand have been welcoming to him, and he had not experienced any fear towards him, he said.

"They see us in different uniforms, they just need to ask where we are from and we will explain."

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