Helen Clark has shared a heartwarming reunion photo with a group of refugees who came here under her watch as Prime Minister.
In 2001, the 'Tampa Boys' were rescued from an overloaded and sinking wooden fishing boat headed for Indonesia.
After 433 refugees were rescued by Norwegian freighter ship Tampa, Ms Clark agreed New Zealand would take in 131.
On Tuesday, more than 15 years later, she met up with a group of those now-men.
"Had wonderful reunion in #Auckland this evening with the #TampaBoys: #refugees who came to #NZ from #Afghanistan as #children when I was PM," the former United Nations Development Programme administrator said on Twitter.
"Each has done well in NZ & is contributing back to the economy & society."
The photo shows more than 20 beaming men, alongside Ms Clark, standing on an Auckland pavement.
It's a timely reunion, coming shortly after the New Zealand Government's offer to take in 150 asylum seekers on Manus Island was rejected by Australia.
The asylum seekers are being forced to relocate after their offshore Australia detention centre in Papua New Guinea was shut down.
But around 400 refugees were refusing to leave the centre, fearing that their replacement accommodation was incomplete and unsafe.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has since given $3 million of taxpayer money to assist the stranded refugees.
Ms Clark was quick to point out New Zealand's proposal in her tweet's comments section.
"NZ has offered to help," she replied to a Twitter user, who said he was from Manus Island and begged for assistance.
Ms Clark has weighed in on the Manus Island situation before, saying the refugees have rights, "among other things, to protection".
"Time for some humanity."
Newshub.
