Forty New Zealanders are being held in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre and facing deportation, the federal government has confirmed.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton revealed on Friday Kiwis with criminal convictions made up 14 per cent of the centre's population of 285 detainees.
Mr Dutton has met New Zealand's high commissioner and justice minister to discuss the deportation cases.
They could return to NZ at any time, but some were appealing their visa cancellations and could expect to be there for a prolonged period, he said.
Overall there are nearly 200 New Zealanders in immigration detention in Australia.
Mr Dutton said Australia took back its own citizens deported from other countries for offences, including armed robbery and child sex crimes.
"The Australian public would expect us to do the same to citizens from other countries," he said.
