Ardern blast for Turnbull as 400 still refuse to leave Manus

More than 250 Manus Island detainees has relocated to new lodgings, with a further 400 still refusing to leave.

Jacinda Ardern and Malcolm Turnbull at a ceremony to commemorate Remembrance Day in Vietnam on Saturday. Picture: AAP

More than 250 men previously detained on Manus Island have been relocated by PNG authorities, as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday blasted Australia’s handling of the unfolding refugee crisis.

About 400 refugees and asylum-seekers are still refusing to leave the mothballed Manus Island regional processing centre.

Ms Ardern flagged her intention to seek another meeting with Malcolm Turnbull.

Ms Ardern continues to push her offer to accept 150 refugees from Australia’s offshore detention centres made in her first face-to-face meeting with Mr Turnbull just over a week ago. The offer was declined on the ground it would be exploited by people-smugglers.

“We made the offer because we saw a great need. No matter what label you put on it, there is absolute need and there is harm being done,” she said yesterday. “I see the human face of this and I see the need and the role New Zealand needs to play. I think it’s clear that we don’t see what’s happening there as acceptable, that’s why the offer’s there.”

Ms Ardern said the fastest way to resolve the issue was by striking a deal with Australia, rather than pursuing her own deal with the PNG government.

“It continues to be the easiest option is to go through Australia given the screening that’s already occurred of those refugees ... I’m interested in the fastest route,” she said.

Ms Ardern will seek to revive the issue at the East Asia Summit this week.

Refugees and ­asylum-seekers have barricaded themselves in the Manus Island processing centre and say they fear for their safety if they leave.

As of yesterday morning, 206 refugees had moved to the East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre, a further 18 refugees had been moved to West Lorengau Haus and 30 failed asylum-­seekers were being accommodated at Hillside Haus.

Thirty-four have chosen to resettle in the PNG community — including one failed asylum-seeker — while 597 have returned to their homelands.

The Australian revealed on Saturday that asylum-seekers and refugees at Manus Island had regularly travelled into town to allegedly have sex with underage girls and buy or sell drugs.

Several children were born from the alleged sexual relations.

PNG police and community leaders told Australian officials in mid-October about 161 incidents of various offences involving residents at the centre in the last four years. The alleged offences had been referred to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and involved assault, sexual assault, aggressive behaviour, unlawful entry, property damage and contraband.