Updated 4.48pm: The Prime Minister is being called out on his comments about New Zealand's refugee intake.

Green MP Denise Roche wants John Key to back up his claim that the country is accepting a far higher number of refugees than the annual quota.

New Zealand commits to taking in 750 refugees a year, but John Key said today "We don't actually take 750, we take 3-4000 I think it is with family reunification. It's a much higher number."

Ms Roche has published Immigration New Zealand figures that show New Zealand has taken in fewer than 5000 refugees since National took office, and only just over 1100 annually over the past two years.

She said Mr Key appears to be grossly over-estimating the numbers.

"I don't know how he's inflating his numbers but they don't stack up."

She added John Key appears not to know the facts.

The Prime Minister later acknowledged he got it wrong with figures he quoted on the number of refugees being allowed into New Zealand.

John Key said the figure he referred to off the top off his head was a number that referred to the full three year refugee program.

"The number of refugees, asylum seekers and family members per year is obviously smaller than that. In the last three years that we have run the programme around 3500 people were approved to come to New Zealand."

The Prime Minister has all but ruled out the annual quota being increased, but Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has said the number is being reviewed.

Ms Roche sees that as a sign of dissension in government ranks.

"If the Prime Minister and the Minister of Immigration can't agree they should just step away, increase the quota and we could be doing our bit on the world stage."