New Zealand says it will take 750 Syrian refugees over the next three years after coming under intense pressure to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Europe.

The announcement came as Prime Minister Tony Abbott pledged Australia would do more to help people fleeing Syria.

New Zealand's immigration minister Michael Woodhouse said 150 places would be offered to Syrians under the government's existing quota, and an extra 600 people from the war-torn country would be accepted through a special emergency intake.

New Zealand currently has an annual refugee quota of 750, which has not risen since 1987.

"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," Mr Woodhouse said.

The move represents an about-turn for the conservative government after prime minister John Key last week ruled out changing the refugee intake until next year.

But the public demanded action after images of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi's tiny body washed up on a Turkish beach brought the human cost of the crisis into devastating focus.

In Australia, the Opposition has called for a one-off increase to our humanitarian intake to allow an extra 10,000 places for asylum seekers.

But Mr Abbott has said he will await advice from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton who is currently in Europe, before announcing the Government's final decision on plans to help.

"The Government's firm intention [is] to take a significant number of people from Syria this year," Mr Abbott told Parliament.

"The women and children in camps, in particular, the women and children from persecuted minorities in camps, they deserve a compassionate response from Australia."

Mr Abbott has been asked to consider temporary visas, in the same style as the former Howard government's offer to Kosovar refugees in 1999 in response to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Mr Woodhouse said New Zealand's move was comparable to its response to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia when it took in an extra 600 refugees.

He said a review of refugee quotas would be completed by mid-2016, when numbers could be increased again.

"[But] there are practical limitations around our ability to provide enough housing, translators [and] health services — all factors we need to take into consideration," he said.

Critics such as Amnesty International say the wealthy nation of 4.5 million should be doing more and have called for an immediate doubling of the existing quota to 1,500.

"The government should be asking how much, not how little, it can do to help save innocent lives," Amnesty New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said.

"Doubling our refugee quota is the least we can do after 28 years without an increase."

AFP