This country won't review its refugee policy before next year.

For almost 30 years our annual intake has been 750.

The refugee problem in Europe is being described as the worst since the Second World War.

A number of countries are opening up their borders but we're holding firm.

The Prime Minister said it'd be irresponsible to take more without a great deal of planning.

"If we were ever going to increase that number I'd have to be convinced that we make sure we can give that same level of service, because I think you do a disservice to people if you bring them in and literally half dump them on the street."

"Everyone accepts the enormity of the challenge of what's taking place.

"But New Zealand can pride itself on the fact that it's one of the countries that's consistently taken refugees for a long period of time. There's quite a few countries actually that don't take refugees."

In Europe, Angela Merkel said the refugee crisis is testing the core ideals of universal rights at the heart of the European Union.

The German Chancellor is urging other EU members to accept their fair share of asylum seekers.

Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum seekers this year, four times more than in 2014 and more than any other EU country.

Angela Merkel said if Europe fails on the question of refugees, then it won't be the Europe we wished for.

"That will be a central challenge, not only for days or months, but for a long period of time."

"That's why it's important, that while we are saying German efficiency is great, what we need now is German flexibility."