More deportees arriving today

A general view of asylum seekers and facilities at Christmas Island Detention Centre. Photo / Getty

Eleven more deportees are arriving in Auckland from Australia this afternoon.

A police spokesperson said they were due to arrive at the international airport later today, with more expected to return on commercial flights over the week.

All would be met by police and corrections staff and undergo the same process required under the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015.

Those arriving would also be supported by Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society and other agencies in the coming weeks.

"Community safety and assisting those agencies responsible for facilitating the reintegration of these individuals into the community remains the priority for police," the spokesperson said.

Labour leader Andrew Little has been visiting Villawood Immigration Detention Centre where more than 60 New Zealanders are being held. His visit, with MP Phil Goff, was seen as a signal of his party's concern at Australia's tough new stance on non-Australian citizen offenders.

The new stance sees those who aren't citizens and sentenced to a year or more in jail detained and deported.

Yesterday, Mr Little met Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and was told there would be no change in policy.

The primary purpose of Mr Little's two-day Australian trip is to highlight the lack of rights for the estimated 250,000 to 350,000 Kiwis living in Australia on "non-protected" visas have - including little welfare safety nets, and no automatic path to permanent residency or citizenship.

Riots at Christmas Island and the arrival of criminals in New Zealand, including on the so-called "Con Air" flight, have been a major political issue this year.

Kiwis in detention or deported.

As at October 31, there were 213 New Zealanders in Australian detention centres (190 men, 23 women) - the second-largest nationality group behind Iran.

Others have already been deported back to New Zealand, or successfully defended their deportation.