About 200 New Zealanders with criminal convictions are currently in Australian detention centres such as Christmas Island awaiting deportation.
The issue moved to the front of the line when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with his New Zealand counterpart, John Key, over the weekend.
While Mr Turnbull said he was "alert" and "empathetic" to growing unease in New Zealand, no major changes were announced.
Today, Mr Key defended the outcome.
"I reckon we're making some progress,” he told TV3’s Paul Henry.
“On this issue, yes, we've got this commitment. I think you'll find the less severe of these (appellants) will not be returned."
Kelvin Davis from New Zealand's Labour party says that's not good enough.
"I don't think any progress will be made. I think those are just weasal words really to deflect the heat of this - the situation that we are in now,” he said.
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“The New Zealand Government has been caught flat-footed by this. John Key should be doing more to look after the interests of NZ citizens."
Kelvin Davis is on Christmas Island, trying to get into the centre to meet with detainees.
While he hasn't gained access yet, he's been able to speak to some over the phone.
"We have heard today about how a detainee has allegedly cut his own wrists and his own throat on Christmas Island,” Mr Davis said.
“The conditions are such that people are being driven to the edge."
In a Senate estimates committee, Michael Outram from the Australian Department of Immigration spoke of the character of the people detained on Christmas Island.
"They're at high risk or in some cases extreme risk,” Mr Outram explained.
“There's a veritable catalogue of significant and serious offending by that cohort and by a lot of people within that cohort."
Of all detainees who have appealed deportation, one third have had their VISA reinstated by a ministerial waiver.
John Key is hoping most will be allowed to stay in Australia once Peter Dutton has reviewed their cases.
"They're reinstated for the reasons that I've been arguing. You know, their family's there, they've lived there a long time, their conviction is not of the most serious order,” Mr Key said.
“What he (Malcolm Turnbull) gave me an absolute commitment to was that the Minister will be utterly reasonable."
