The Government has stalled on plans to double New Zealand's refugee quota - and it's because of the housing crisis.

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says Aotearoa need to sort that before it thinks about welcoming more refugees.

The refugee crisis is still very much a crisis, however, and the Government has pledged to do its bit.

"It is still my intention to see an increase in the refugee quota to 1500," says Mr Lees-Galloway.

This was a major campaign promise, but 10 months on it seems to have stalled, from what the Minister is saying.

"What we have to do is make sure we've got the capacity to take those extra people."

Translation: we just don't have enough homes.