New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will raise the "corrosive" issue of deportations of Kiwis from Australia when she meets Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne on Friday.
Ms Ardern, who is making a whirlwind visit to the country, said she understood that some deportations were justified, but complained the Australian government's policy went too far.
“We have seen cases where there is also almost no connection of an individual to New Zealand who have been deported,” she told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"I consider that to be a corrosive part of that policy. And it’s having a corrosive effect on our relationship."
Under changes to immigration laws in 2014, a person’s visa can be revoked if they have been convicted of a crime carrying a jail sentence of a year or longer.
Since the government toughened its approach, more than 1500 New Zealanders have been sent back.
Successive New Zealand leaders have raised the issue, but there's no indication the Australian government is prepared to soften its stance.
It's the first time Ms Ardern and Mr Morrison have met since the Christchurch massacres.
"Last time I saw Jacinda was under the most difficult of circumstances when we were in Christchurch for the memorial service which was a heart-wrenching exercise," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters.
Fifty-one people died in the March terror shooting, parts of which were streamed live on social media.
Mr Morrison has since moved initiatives at the G20 as part of the "Christchurch call" to send a message that social media and internet platforms "can't be weaponised by terrorists".
It comes after Ms Ardern met with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and governor Linda Dessau.
Ms Ardern's main reason for being in Australia is to deliver a speech at Melbourne Town Hall on good government on Thursday.
The leaders are also expected to discuss the Pacific step-up program, with some healthy sporting banter in the mix.
