The Green Party is pushing for New Zealand to recognise the slaying of up to 1.5 million people 101 years ago.

Green MP Gareth Hughes says our country has a strong connection to the Armenian Genocide - it started around the same time ANZAC troops were landing at Gallipoli and Kiwi soldiers protected some Armenians.

He says things have changed since 2016, when German MPs were placed under 24-hour police protection and warned not to visit Turkey after voting to recognise the genocide.

He's trying to raise awareness amongst MPs before asking Parliament to formally recognise the catastrophe.

Hughes says for decades Turkey has denied what happened.

"But given that dozens of other countries from Australian state, US states, European countries, have all recognised it I think it's incumbent on us to recognise them as well."

However, the Prime Minister insists New Zealand has always acknowledged the significant loss of life the Armenian people suffered at the time of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has, and continues to, acknowledge what happened but has stopped short of calling it genocide.

"Those are issues that we have left for reconciliation process between those parties who were involved, but we've always acknowledged that significant loss of life."

Hughes is hosting two events at Parliament this week, a film screening and a discussion with experts on the Armenian Genocide.