After almost 10 years in the making, the first refugees from Australian off-shore detention centres have arrived in New Zealand with hopes they will be the first of many.
A flight destined for New Zealand carrying an initial six refugees from Nauru left on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Michael Wood confirmed.
"The Australian and New Zealand Governments continue to work together to resettle 150 refugees annually from Australia's existing regional processing cohort," Wood told Newshub.
It is a part of the Government's joint agreement with Australia to resettle up to 150 refugees each year for three years from Australia's cohort. The refugees have to meet New Zealand's Refugee Quota Programme requirements.
The offer, which has been in place since 2013, was accepted in March after being avoided by the Australian government over fears refugees could use New Zealand as a back door to get into Australia.
Australian media outlets are reporting 92 refugees remain in Nauru.
Asylum Seekers Support Trust general manager Mustafa Derbashi told Ryan Bridge on AM he is looking forward to welcoming the refugees into our country.
"It's very exciting news for us and the country as well," Derbashi said.
Derbashi said he hopes the Government will accept even more refugees in the future.
"We are a country of aroha, we are a country of representation, you know, our hospitality," he said.
"I hope that New Zealand will have more hospitality and have more [refugees] in the future."
