Report asks NZ to take Nauru refugees

A report on Nauru's asylum-seekers commissioned by the Australian Government recommends New Zealand accept them as refugees.

The report - to be released today - says political intervention by New Zealand could be their only hope.

"It's a great alternative," said the report's author, Gholam Aboss. "If you [take them] you would be doing a lot of humanitarian good."

New Zealand duty minister Steve Maharey said the New Zealand Government would consider acting only if asked to by Australia.

He said it would be "completely improper" for the Government to step into the debate without being directly asked to do so.

Mr Aboss, a Sydney-based Afghan community leader, was sent to Nauru last month to prepare a report for Australian Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone after some detainees began a hunger strike.

He was accompanied by former Australian Immigration Minister John Hodges, who is also preparing a report.

Mr Aboss said last night he was still finishing the report, but the main suggestion would be for New Zealand to step in to help resolve the situation.

"It [would] be the ultimate wish of those people to come to New Zealand if the Australian Government doesn't issue visas for them. New Zealand could play a great part [in this]."

Mr Aboss said that if the Australian Government did not change its immigration policy, New Zealand could be the asylum-seekers' only chance.

"It's a grave situation but the Government have their policies and their reason, but in my report I have given some alternatives.

"I am hoping the Australian Government will do something to end the crisis.

"We can't do anything because it's up to the Government authorities to end the situation. We only report to the Government."

The detainees were free to return to Afghanistan, but Mr Aboss said it was not a fair option for them and it would not be something he would recommend to the Government.

He said people who had moved back reported there was no peace or security.

Last month, Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia, Mahmoud Saikai, warned that sending asylum-seekers back would undermine efforts to quash terrorism.

- NZPA