''They are all safe here, thank God, thanks to New Zealand, but it hasn't been easy. It has been a struggle. It's still a struggle.''
None came as refugees, officially, although they fled with ''nothing'' and in fear for their lives. Highly educated, the siblings had not yet been able to work in their professional fields - pharmacy, law and dentistry. The situation was frustrating, but Dr Taha's family were the ''lucky ones''.
Some of Dr Taha's relatives remain in Syria, where ''distant relatives'' had been killed by militia supporting President Bashar al-Assad, and other relatives had been kidnapped by Islamic State (IS) militants.
Speaking on Thursday night, as images of the body of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi increased pressure on Western countries to do more, Dr Taha became emotional about the human tragedy unfolding.
''[Many Syrians think] they better die trying [to escape] than to die under Assad's barrels.''
''It's beyond comprehension.''
''This man has no human sense at all. He's not a human.''
''People here [in New Zealand] care so much about anything living - even animals have lives.
''While in Syria they go and slaughter anybody ... they don't even waste a bullet, they just slaughter.''
He cannot understand why President Assad had not been forced out by the United States. Parts of Damascus had been under siege for three years with no food or water.
''They are living on nothing.
''People have no choice. They have to leave.''
His six children, and 14 nieces and nephews, were settled into education at Wakari School, secondary schools and the University of Otago.
''This is the best environment [in New Zealand] to bring up a generation who can understand and live with each other without looking at `what's your background, what's your ethnicity, where you come from'.''
Dr Taha said New Zealand should fundamentally rethink its stance on the refugee crisis, and its population level.
It could sustain a much higher population, which would benefit the economy.
''Germany is not a stupid country to allow hundreds of thousands of Syrians [in].
''All the people who leave Syria are highly educated. They are not just going to sit there and do nothing.
''The human race are the true treasure for any nation.''
His nephews and nieces were traumatised by their experiences. They had faced attempted kidnap and checkpoint hold-ups.
''When they go to university [in Dunedin] they see people treating them like a human being. People smiling at them, trying to help.''
Dr Taha had carried the financial burden to pay for food, education, and housing for his siblings' families. The financial situation was improving, but it was still a struggle. His sister, who wears a scarf to work in Dunedin, had faced reservations from some colleagues about her choice of religious attire. However, overwhelmingly, the Dunedin community had been supportive, and the families had made many new friends. Syrian society did not have a history of radicalism and in the past, had offered sanctuary to people fleeing other regimes. ''Syrian society has never been radicalised, ever.
''My father's best friend was a Christian.''
Dr Taha recalled visiting the ancient city of Palmyra with his father, and he mourned its senseless destruction by the ''twisted'' IS. He is adamant if Assad was forced out, IS would go.
''If [President Barack] Obama says `Assad, you have to leave within 24 hours', he would leave ... Everybody knows America's might.''
The Assad regime was the ''primary tumour'' while IS was its ''metastasis'', Dr Taha said. Prime Minister John Key's stance shifted on Thursday as pressure grew for New Zealand to do more to help.
Previously, he had ruled out any immediate action in response to the crisis. A spokeswoman for the prime minister contacted yesterday referred the ODT to comments on Thursday when Mr Key said he was considering what New Zealand could do to help.
