UPDATED 8.13pm: The Government's telling New Zealanders detained on Christmas Island to return to New Zealand if they’re worried about their safety. 

LISTEN: Kelvin Davis speaks with Tim Wilson

Details of a riot on the Island have been revealed with Labour MP Kelvin Davis saying he’s received reports that detainees have ripped out walls, are running free and fires have been lit. 

He said people he has spoken to are worried they're going to be shot and are pleading for help. He said detainees got beaten up after they asked questions about the incident.

"I do know that they're scared, they're traumatised and they're just unsure what's going to happen to them in the next few hours."

It's also understood the detention centre's security guards have fled amongst the mayhem.

Macquarie Radio Network reporter Stephanie Borys said it's understood that the riots were sparked by a group of Iranian asylum seekers who were asking questions about the death of a fellow Iranian detainee and were frustrated with the lack of answers they were being provided with.  

A spokesperson for Prime Minister John Key said they're aware of a disturbance, and have asked for information from Australian authorities, including a check on the welfare of New Zealanders being detained there.

Key says his current understanding of the situation is that there could be "a small number of New Zealanders actually involved", but as yet he hasn't been advised of any injuries to New Zealanders.

He also says it’s unreasonable for people to expect him to directly intervene with an Australian facility. 

“If there was a problem at Paremoremo I don’t think the Australian Prime Minister would fly over to Paremoremo.  There is a system and if they want to appeal to us and say that their human rights have been abused in any way we’ve given them an utter commitment that we’d follow up on that.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Government is standing by its handling of the incident with Cabinet Minister Christopher Pyne saying the situation is in hand. 

“We have had an incident over the weekend which has been extremely tragic and unfortunate for those concerned, but I think Peter Dutton is managing the issue very well,” said Pyne. 

Despite the assurance, Amnesty International remains concerned, with their campaigns director Meg de Ronde says New Zealand can't stay silent.

"Now is the time for New Zealand to speak up and say to Australia that human rights must be upheld and say that we can't treat people in the way Australia is currently treating them." 

Ms de Rond says what's gone on at Christmas Island over the past few days highlights the dangers of remote offshore detention facilities.  

"Concerns around the treatment of people in detention is ongoing and certainly it sounds like what's happened today on Christmas Island is the result of indeterminate detaining of people."