NZ refusing to take in a single extra refugee

The Herald reports:

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi held a virtual meeting with counterparts from other Five Eyes countries on Wednesday, where the plight of Afghan refugees was discussed.

After the meeting, the UK announced it will take 20,000 refugees in recognition of the “debt of gratitude” the UK owes Afghanistan, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. …

The UK is the second Five Eyes country to pledge to resettle more Afghan refugees. This week, Canada promised to settle more than 20,000 Afghans from groups it considers likely targets of the Taliban. …

Faafoi’s office said there haven’t been any discussions about a separate refugee system for Afghan nationals in conjunction with other partner countries beyond the United Nations refugee programme. New Zealand had no plans to change its current intake.

This is appalling inaction. There are hundreds of thousands of Afghans who are fleeing the Taliban. Already there are stories of executions and torture.

In 2015 the Key Government announced it would take in 600 Syrian refugees (above the normal quota) in response to the humanitarian disaster in Syria. In 2000 the Shipley Government took in 400 refugees from Kosovo above quota.

This is not, or should not, be about politics. It should be about doing the right thing.