Official documents suggest immigration officials were pressured from the top, to ask for more money to stop boat people

In February, Immigration New Zealand tripled its bid for Budget funding to prevent "maritime mass arrivals" - from 11 million dollars over four years, to 33 million.

Emails from the head of Immigration just weeks earlier say the Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration had given them a "strong steer" to not understate mass arrivals in the budget.

Immigration consultant Howard Levarko says the move is excessive, especially when there are so many other issues at Immigration.