Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says the offer from New Zealand to take some refugees is not the right decision for the now.
New Zealand has been pressing Australia to accept its offer to resettle 150 refugees from Manus and Nauru following the centres closure.
Mr Dutton has told Sky News if the government sends the asylum seekers to New Zealand, it may send a green light to people smugglers.
World Vision Australia chief advocate Tim Costello says the New Zealand offer to accept refugees has to be taken up by the Australian government.
Mr Costello has told the ABC the argument that the boats will restart is invalid.
