Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his New Zealand counterpart are at odds over whether New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru has driven a rise in people-smuggling operations.

When Mr Turnbull was asked on Tuesday whether New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees had pushed up the number of people smuggler boats captured by Australia's border protection system, Mr Turnbull appeared to confirm the claim, saying "a number of" people-smuggling boats intercepted by Australian authorities stated they were ultimately aiming to settle in New Zealand.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meet in Sydney, last year. Credit:David Gray

He said "ruthless" people smugglers had been "very busily marketing and promoting New Zealand as a destination recently".

"New Zealand benefits from our Operation Sovereign Borders," he said.