A New Zealand Labour MP is waiting on Christmas Island to hear if he'll be granted access to an Australian detention centre where Kiwis are being held.
Kelvin Davis arrived on the island on Saturday, and hand delivered a request to look inside the centre where about 40 Kiwis are being held while they wait to be sent back to New Zealand.
Concerns have grown about Australia's immigration policy, which came into effect in December, under which anyone who isn't an Australian citizen and who has served a prison sentence of 12 months or more can be deported, potentially affecting about 1000 New Zealanders.
Although NZ Prime Minister John Key pushed for exemptions for New Zealanders in his first bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, the Australian leader refused to budge.
Mr Davis told AAP on Sunday he's been talking to detainees over the phone and has heard of worrying conditions.
They told him of fellow detainees self-harming and committing suicide, and one told of being beaten by an emergency response team in a case of mistaken identity.
Viewing the detention centre from a hilly outlook, it appeared to be a "standard prison", he said.
"The thing that strikes me about flying into Christmas Island is just how far away it is from anything."
It was a 20 hour flight from Sydney, where some of the detainees were from.
"To me that's just absolutely inhumane to separate people that far from their families, their loved ones, their legal advice."
He was expecting to hear soon whether he would be allowed in, but said he would not be surprised if Australian authorities delayed a response.
*Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
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