Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it is "hard to ignore the human face" of the crisis on Manus Island and the issue should not be ignored.
Ardern's comments come before a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this Sunday.
She reconfirmed New Zealand's offer to Australia to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.
"I expect that the situation on Manus Island will be discussed in my meeting with Prime Minister Turnbull on Sunday. I intend to reaffirm our offer when we meet," Ardern said.
"I acknowledge that, while New Zealand has not had to contend with these issues on our shores, it's hard to ignore the human face of this situation and nor should it be ignored.
"New Zealand will also maintain its right to use its robust screening processes for the Refugee Quota programme, regardless of the origin of the refugees. This will safeguard against any security concerns."
Some of the refugees on Manus have appealed directly to Ardern, saying they are begging her to help them.
New Zealand's offer to Australia to take 150 of the refugees has been declined by Australia, given any refugees accepted by New Zealand would end up with the right to live in Australia.
Turnbull has also said resettlement in New Zealand could be an incentive for asylum seekers to board boats.
More than 600 refugees and asylum seekers remain in the centre in Papua New Guinea, even though all the services have been switched off and the staff have left.
They refuse to move to alternative accommodation in the nearby Lorengau community, citing safety fears.
Acting Australian Prime Minister Julie Bishop has said that they would be given shelter, food and medical care in Lorengau, but Nat Jit Lam, regional representative for the United Nations refugee agency, said the sites in Lorengau were not ready.
Last October then-Labour leader Andrew Little said Prime Minister John Key should "cause international embarrassment" to Australia if it do not accept the offer for New Zealand to take up to 150 people a year from offshore detention centres.
