The New Zealand government won't be extending its offer to re-settle 150 refugees in Nauru to the Pacific Island, saying it's proposal was only for Australia.
The comment comes after Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton suggested New Zealand could take refugees held in its detention centre on Nauru.
In 2013, New Zealand offered to take in 150 refugees off Australia's hands - an offer that was never taken up.
Mr Dutton has said any deal to take refugees "was an issue between Nauru and New Zealand".
He told Al Jazeera he would have "no objection" if that was the case, but there was a caveat.
"Let me make this very important qualification, because we have had people smugglers that have tried to send boats across the top of Australia to New Zealand before. Let me make this very important point that people - if they've sought to come by boat - it doesn't matter where they're resettled, New Zealand or somewhere else, they will not be coming to Australia at any point."
Australia's detention centre on Nauru is at the centre of allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect.
New Zealand Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said the offer made was in relation to those who had been approved as convention refugees.
In a statement, he said the Government is "not considering entering into a separate arrangement directly with Nauru".
Newshub.
