Plea to PM on Nauru refugees

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is being urged to make her offer on refugees directly to Nauru rather than Australia.

World Vision New Zealand has launched a campaign to resettle 119 children and their families who are detained on Nauru.

Ardern has previously offered to take 150 refugees from Manus and Nauru — a move that was rejected by Australia, who claimed it would open back-door entry into that country.

World Vision national director Grant Bayldon said they were asking Ardern to make the offer directly to Nauru, rather than Australia.

“While there remains an obligation on Australia under international law, it doesn’t look like they are going to do the right thing any time soon.”

Another element of the campaign was that they were asking for the evacuation of children and their families to be prioritised, Bayldon said.

They should be brought to safety in New Zealand before Universal Children’s Day in November, he said.

“They are being forced to live in sub-standard conditions which violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

In a statement, Ardern said no one liked the thought of children being forced to flee their homes and seek asylum.

“New Zealand’s offer to Australia to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru has been repeated a number of times and remains on the table.

“The Government of Nauru has made clear publicly that its focus is on working with Australia on appropriate resettlement options.”

World Vision NZ is asking Kiwis to take the plea to the Prime Minister on Facebook using the hashtag #KidsOffNauru ahead of the Government attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru early next month.