New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has renewed a long-standing offer to resettle refugees from Nauru, during discussions with Scott Morrison.
But the prime minister says Australia's position on the offer has not changed.
Ms Ardern did not raise the issue during a high-level meeting in Singapore but later broached the topic at a dinner on Wednesday night.
"I briefly mentioned the issue of the deal being exactly the same but that was already understood, so there's really not much more to discuss between us on that," she told reporters on Thursday.
"He certainly understands that we've put the offer out there and that we've put it on the table.
"But as I've said consistently, it's the same offer that it's been today, that it was yesterday, that it was a month ago."
Mr Morrison confirmed the topic was "raised casually" over dinner on Wednesday night.
"The government's position hasn't changed," he told reporters in Singapore.
New Zealand has for years been offering to settle at least 150 refugees being held on Nauru.
Jacinda Ardern broached the issue of Nauru during a dinner with Scott Morrison while in Singapore. Source: AAP
Mr Morrison recently indicated he may be open to accepting the deal on the condition they never come to Australia but has since gone cold on the idea despite facing increasing pressure on the issue due to concerns about the health and welfare of the children being detained on Nauru.
The Asylum Seekers Resource Centre said on Thursday that 22 children remained on the tiny island, including an unwell 3-year-old girl named Melanie.
Last month, the Australian Border Force confirmed 11 children had been transferred off Nauru for medical reasons.
Jana Favero, Director of Campaigns and Advocacy at the ASRC said while the reduction in numbers was a relief, there should be no children detained on Nauru because it is not safe for their mental health.
“After five long years, more children who have been detained on Nauru are being brought to Australia for urgent medical treatment because of rapid deterioration in their health.
“But 22 children remain detained on Nauru requiring proper medical treatment and to start recovery," said Ms Favero.
“No child can ever be detained on Nauru."
Whistleblower doctors revealed earlier this year that the asylum-seeker children were suffering mentally and that the impact of their detention had seen many develop Resignation Syndrome, a rare yet severe psychiatric condition that presents as a progressive social withdrawal and reluctance to engage in usual activities such as school and play.
Some children with the syndrome are so severe that they end up in a catatonic state.
“Offshore detention has made these children sick. We hope they can all now begin getting the proper treatment they need and begin rebuilding their lives," said Ms Favero.
