Of those, 600 will be through a special emergency intake above New Zealand's annual quota of 750 refugees.
In addition to the 600, there will be 150 places allocated within the quota.
"Like most New Zealanders, the government is very concerned at the humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Syria and Europe that has visibly worsened in recent times," Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said on Monday.
"That's why we will dedicate 150 places for Syrians within the existing 2015/16 annual quota of 750.
"On top of that, we'll take in another 100 Syrians in this financial year, and a further 500 over the next two financial years."
Mr Woodhouse says the cost of the additional places is estimated at $US48.8 million ($A70.61 million) over the next two-and-a-half years.
That's on top of the $NZ58m the government already spends each year on resettling refugees.
Mr Woodhouse says the response is appropriate.
"Official advice is an immediate intake of any more than the extra 100 for this year could put unreasonable strains on services, affecting the quality of resettlement outcomes for all refugees."
The government will continue to monitor the situation in Syria and review the possibility of further assistance during the 2016 quota.
The government has been under pressure from opposition parties to take in additional Syrian refugees following widespread publicity over their plight.
Thousands are streaming across borders in Europe, most of them trying to get to Germany.
Labour and the Greens plan to introduce bills to parliament on Tuesday to increase the quota over the next year.
Labour leader Andrew Little's bill would seek places for a special intake of 750, while the Greens want to increase the quota permanently to 1000.
Mr Little said before the government's announcement he might pull his bill if he was satisfied with what it intended doing.
The Greens plan to present their bill anyway and seek parliament's permission to have it passed.
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