Forty New Zealanders are being held in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre and facing deportation, the Australian federal government has confirmed.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says New Zealanders with criminal convictions made up 14 per cent of the centre's population of 285 detainees.

Mr Dutton has met New Zealand's high commissioner and justice minister to discuss the deportation cases.

He says they could return to NZ at any time, but some were appealing their visa cancellations and could expect to be there for a prolonged period.

Overall there are nearly 200 New Zealanders in immigration detention in Australia.