The government is likely to take action today to address growing calls for New Zealand's refugee quota to be raised for the first time in nearly 30 years.

A global refugee crisis - the worst since the end of the Second World War - is seeing thousands of people flee into Europe, braving dangerous conditions on the Mediterranean. The UN refugee agency UNHCR has said 366,402 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe this year, with 2,800 dying or going missing en route.

Cabinet will consider papers from Immigration which will look at how services would cope with an increase in the refugee quota of 750, which many are urging to be doubled.

The quota hasn't been changed since 1987.

The New Zealand Herald understands that Cabinet will approve a special intake of Syrian refugees on top of the current quota. The final number of Syrians to be offered places in New Zealand under the extraordinary allocation was yet to be finalised last night. But a senior government source told the Herald it was expected to be in the hundreds rather than thousands and could be spread out over up to three years.

All political parties bar National, even the government's support partners ACT and United Future, are now calling for an increase.

Opposition parties will be adding to the pressure as the Labour and the Green parties intend on tabling legislation that will allow extra refugees into the country.

Labour Party Leader Andrew Little insisted the government needed to stop "dithering" and make a decision as there's a clear groundswell from New Zealanders they expect it to be significant.

"If the government is listening then there's a good chance they could do something and hopefully they will do something that is about making a meaningful difference or a meaningful contribution to alleviate a humanitarian crisis," Little said.

"If they do that, I'll be the first to welcome them."

"It is time to act, time to make a commitment. The crisis is on now. We need an emergency response now. We shouldn't be dithering anymore about the claim we need any more advice. It's time for the government to make a decision."

Green MP Denise Roche said she'll be deeply disappointed if the National Party blocks her Bill, unless it's coming through with something better itself. She’s even open to a one-off increase.

“It wouldn't be my ideal option, but it would be better than nothing, really,” she said.

Leaders of the Catholic and Anglican church are set to issue a collective response to the refugee crisis. Cardinal John Dew from the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop Philip Richardson of the Anglican Church will deliver the joint address in Wellington this morning.

Anglican Church spokesman Reverend Jayson Rhodes said they'll be making a strong call for a collective response.

"Here is the church community willing to step up,” he stated.

He said the crisis is a major issue for the Church community with a number of different diocese ruling bodies asking for action. Mr Rhodes said they’ve been saying: “We are communities; we are willing to step up.”

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Council of Refugees is urging Kiwis to change their perceptions of refugees. The group wants the government to up the number we take on every year from 750, to 1000, claiming there is the capacity to do so.

Council president Arif Saeid said people see refugees as old, unable to work and requiring handouts, but that's actually not the case at all. Many of the younger generations of current refugees are university students and he’s described them as “assets for the future of New Zealand”.

“They are very hardworking Kiwis,” he stated.

The government was forced to issue a denial over the weekend after a spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency claimed they had accepted an emergency intake.