Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses reports in Australian media that NZ's offer has created a surge of people smuggling boats heading for our shores.

A fresh round of intelligence leaks from across the ditch have claimed new boat arrivals of asylum seekers, and lay the blame at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's feet.

Australian authorities reportedly turned around four new boats just before Christmas, and intelligence sources have said Ardern's criticisms of Australia's refugee policy are the likely cause.

The Queensland-based Courier Mail has reported 164 asylum seekers across the boats were halted and reversed, but not before telling officials working for "Operation Sovereign Borders" that they were bound for New Zealand.

HANDOUT An undated image released November 13, 2017 shows detainees staging a protest inside the compound at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

The leak appears to have gone to several Australian news publications and questions over whether the sting was politically motivated have risen again, with suggestions the leak might reflect an Australian Government frustrated with Ardern's position on asylum seekers.

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The Australian Government has pressured Ardern to step down from a tougher stance on its treatment of asylum seekers. It's currently working through a plan to allow 1500 to be accepted into the United States.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been more vocal than previous leaders about her concern over Australia's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

Ardern has retained an offer to take up to 150 asylum seekers on Manus Island off Australia's hands. It was an offer first extended by former Prime Minister John Key, and has remained on the table although never accepted by Australia.

That Government has long maintained such an arrangement would only encourage more people smugglers to lure asylum seekers into boats to make the treacherous journey to either country, it is claimed.

No boat has ever reached New Zealand, and the Australian Government has long expressed frustrations that it believed that was largely due to Sovereign Borders turning boats around before they got here, at considerable cost to the Australian taxpayer.

SOCIAL MEDIA Asylum seekers protest on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, in this picture taken from social media November 3, 2017

The cost of the operation reached AU$4 billion (NZ$4.3b) in 2017, which included just overBut $1 billion to detain 1140 refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru and a further $1 billion on border enforcement.

While diplomatic shots between the two Governments over the issue reached a peak late last year, discussion over the invitation has remained relatively quiet over the past few months.

The Government has declined to comment on Australian intelligence, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said such conversations amongst smugglers was not new.

DOMINION-POST Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has recently commented about the extent to which New Zealand's borders were being protected by Australia.

"Chatter amongst people smugglers has ebbed and flowed for many, many years. Keeping in mind of course that Tampa was over 15 years ago, so that's not a new issue.

"I'm advised that none of the activity we've seen in recent times is unusual ."

She would not comment on suggestions Australia's leaks may be political, but she had a message for people smugglers.

PHOTO: KEVIN STENT/STUFF Peace Action Wellington protesters blocked the gates into the Australian High Commission in Wellington, over the Manus Island refugees late last year.

"As I've said many times before, I consider them to be parasites. They prey on people's vulnerability, they manipulate situations and use any propaganda they can to take money from vulnerable people."

National Party spokesman for foreign affairs Gerry Brownlee said the intelligence was "proof" Ardern should "take more care with her remarks".

"While this is a long-standing offer, the Prime Minister's grandstanding not only affected our relationship with our closest ally, but has also reportedly led to more attempts by asylum seekers to reach Australia, and also to target New Zealand.

"This is a dangerous journey which has cost lives, and one the Australian Government, supported by New Zealand has worked hard to discourage – and been effective in doing," Brownlee said.

No dates or further details on the boats' apparent arrivals into Australian territory have been released but Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull raised the issue to media there, last week.

He said New Zealand had been a destination for people smugglers, and new "chatter" picked up from crime syndicates in other countries had pointed to New Zealand being back on the radar of some smugglers.

"I mean the people smugglers, the only reason New Zealand does not have thousands of people arriving in an unauthorised way on their shores is because of our border protection policies," he told ABC radio.

The latest leak comes after Stuff and the Australian Financial Review revealed diplomatic cables last year, that reported a group of Manus Island asylum seekers were luring underage girls as young as 10 into sex.

Intelligence advice to the Australian Government, sent in early October from Papua New Guinea, detailed allegations of shocking behaviour by some of the asylum seekers squatting in the now-closed Australian centre on Manus Island.

"In addition to broader allegations of drug taking and dealing (marijuana), there were overarching community concerns regarding allegations that some residents were engaged in sexual activities with underage girls," the report states.

It said: "some residents were renting rooms throughout Lorengau and luring underage girls between 10 and 17 years of age, with money, goods and food".

Australian government sources said then, they were extremely concerned about the messages Ardern was sending to people smugglers.

"The smugglers are watching every interaction between governments in the region on this issue and looking for a chance to restart their businesses," one senior Australian Government source said.

"They observe the statements of new leaders very closely and if they see a sign of policies shifting or changing, they take advantage of that."

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