Former refugee Rez Gardi has been named Young New Zealander of the Year for her services to human rights.

The 25-year-old was born in a UN refugee camp after her Kurdish family escaped persecution in Pakistan.

She came to New Zealand as part of its refugee quota and now works as a lawyer advocating for refugees.

She told Rachel Smalley New Zealand needs to play a bigger part in helping the displaced.

"For me the New Zealand quota is a little bit embarrassing because it's tremendously low per capita in comparison to other Western countries."