New Zealanders are starting to make their voices heard on the issue of refugees, and the failure to move New Zealand's quota numbers up for nearly three decades.

There's growing pressure on the New Zealand government to open its arms to more than 750 refugees per year - a figure that hasn't changed since 1987 despite the largest displacement of people from their homes since the Second World War.

Prime Minister John Key hasn't ruled out a review of the quota being brought forward.

Action Station, a website which campaigns on various issues, has gathered more than 6000 signatures on a petition directed at Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse, calling for another hundred Syrian refugees to be given space in NZ, over and above the current quota.

A Facebook page called Doing Our Bit - Double NZ's Refugee Quota has garnered over 5000 'likes'.

Another page 'Open homes - Open borders' has been set up by activist Urs Signer, asking people whether they have a spare room, sleep out or bach to offer refugees.

Tracey Barnett, author and founder of refugee awareness initiative WagePeaceNZ, believes the growth in support online is indicative of the welcoming nature of New Zealanders.

"What we're seeing is that our government is sadly out of step with what is the greater feeling amongst average New Zealanders, which is that we want to do more, we can do more," Barnett said.

She also believes that a one-off emergency intake of a few hundred refugees, such as the idea raised by the Labour Party's David Shearer, wouldn't cut it as the country needs to raise its contribution in a sustained long-term way.

"To do a one-off intake diminishes what would be an infrastructure which needs to be built and supported and fully funded by the government," Barnett said.

The United Nations has recognised New Zealand's refugee resettlement programme as one of the best. Rachel O'Connor of the Red Cross, which runs the Mangere Resettlement Centre, would like to see the same quality service given if the quota were to be increased.

"I think if we increased the quota we would want to make sure that we keep that world class service. We know people resettle better if they have good quality service on arrival. That's what we want to do, make sure people have the best shot possible in New Zealand," she said.

Massey University demography and migration expert Paul Spoonley said the government could immediately increase the number to a thousand without it being a stretch on resources, though Spoonley said that would still not be enough.

"Compared to what other countries are doing in terms of receiving refugees at this point, I think we should probably talk about a number that's higher than that," he said.

The Catholic and Anglican Archbishops yesterday joined the growing number of voices campaigning to bring more refugees into the country. The spokesman for the United Nations' refugee agency, Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Select Committee, and two of National's support parties have also backed a change to the quota.