Transcript
Green MP Golriz Gharhraman escaped Iran as a child in 1990 and resettled in New Zealand with her family.
Other refugees were not so lucky, like the 2000 detained in prison camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru for seeking asylum in Australia.
Ms Gharhaman says New Zealand can no longer ignore the crisis unfolding on PNG's Manus Island.
"It is such a humanitarian emergency. Manus Island is going to be looked at in history as one of the worst and grossest of human rights violations. The conditions aside, it's indefinite detention which is defined as torture in international law. So for us to be silent over four years is complicity."
Jacinda Ardern says she'll renew New Zealand's offer to resettle some of Australia's offshore detainees after examining rejected proposals made by her predecessors.
"I want to look at the detail of the offer that was made and the obligations that we've set out that we would take on. Of course that would be within our quota. And also look at that and existing intent that we've shared with the UN around taking UN-mandated refugees. So i want to see exactly what the government has committed to."
The new government has committed to doubling New Zealand's refugee quota to an annual intake of 1500, but also plans to reduce net migration.
Migrants with skills like Manus Island detainee and civil engineer Farhad Rahmati, however, will always be in demand.
"I used to be a project manager in different types of construction sites. I love my job. I tried my best based on education and I think I was useful to the society which I lived. I'm looking to more forward to any opportunity from New Zealand that's something for sure I will be a useful person to that society.”
Detainee Benham Satah says he also has skills to offer New Zealand.
"I have attained bachelor degree in English translation and also mastered English education. I have been interpreting for Kurds and Iranians since my arrival in 2013. Actually I have always looked at New Zealand as a saviour that will save us from this torture and this suffering that Australia has been putting to us for more than four years. I hope the Prime Minister of New Zealand keeps her word of the government to stop this torture of innocent people on Manus and Nauru."
Mr Satah and 700 detainees are resisting pressure to move to three buildings in the Manus Island community for fear of more machete attacks by locals.
"We are protesting under the rain. Whatever the weather is we will come to protest every day until we get our freedom. PNG is not safe country."
Golriz Gharhraman says it's time for the New Zealand government to intervene.
"This is our backyard this is in the Pacific that this level of really grave violation and abuse is happening, has been happening for four years. Our values shine through when we protest apartheid or nuclear testing in the Pacific. It would be great if we could help Australia make the right decision and actually take some responsibility for this."
The PNG police have extra manpower on standby to move Manus Island detainees into a hostile community opposed to the relocation.
