The Government is being taken to task over the way it's treating information provided to officials by refugees.

The Refugee Status Branch is now reconsidering its processes after the Refugee Council and Amnesty New Zealand said confidential information supplied by refugees to officials is being shared with third parties without refugee consent, sometimes endangering their families.

SEE ALSO: Claims government agency is putting refugees and their families in danger

Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway said for there to be a cavalier attitude to confidentiality allowed under immigration law is a failure on the part of the Government.

"We have to make it clear to people that New Zealand takes their information confidentiality seriously, and that we're not a nation that is going to put them at risk by giving information to people who might not have their welfare at the front of their minds."

Mr Lees-Galloway said it certainly appears that our immigration laws don't meet UNHCR guidelines, something he believes the Government should have been aware of when it last changed them.

"The UNHCR knows what the challenges and issues that refugees can face are, and it has very good guidelines in place.

"I would have thought that it was a simple matter for the New Zealand Government to ensure that its agencies were able to adhere to those guidelines."

Refugee Council spokesperson Deborah Manning said it's essential New Zealand's treatment of confidential information matches the UNHCR approach.

"And that is the consent of the refugee claimant is sought before any inquiries are made with their home country."

Amnesty New Zealand's Meg De Ronde said they want there to be meaningful consultation on the new procedures being developed

"We hope that both experts and advocated working in this space are consulted."