The government's rejected a UN request to increase the number of African and Middle Eastern refugees.
New Zealand is due to accept 1500 refugees next year, about half of them from Asia-Pacific.
The government announced it was dropping a requirement for African and Middle Eastern refugees to have a family link to New Zealand, which was welcomed as the overturning of a racist policy in October.
However, cabinet papers show UN and government officials urged the government to increase the number of African refugees to a quarter, and those from the Middle East, to 35 percent, as that's where the greatest need is.
Instead, the Government chose to increase their proportions to 15 percent each.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway speaks to Corin Dann.
