AP photo / Wong Maye-E

AP photo / Wong Maye-E

New Zealand is not prepared to extend the number of refugees it accepts and needs to address the increasing risk of refugee boats reaching our shores, says Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key said he had discussed with new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard the possibility of creating a "regional processing centre" in the Pacific region.

Key says New Zealand's interest in the proposal was partly due to the prospect of boatloads of asylum seekers arriving in New Zealand.

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source: nzherald.co.nz