Australia made good on its policy yesterday when a group of detainees from Christmas Island touched down in Auckland on a charter flight.
Another group is expected next week.
The high-profile set of circumstances surrounding the deportation of New Zealanders from Christmas Island, and wider Australian detention centres, has caused many Kiwis to express their concern about the way these detainees have been treated.
While most of them are serious offenders, many of them have lived in Australia for most of their lives and they arrive ''home'' to a country they can barely remember.
Their family and community support has been left behind in their adopted country - a country they did not apparently admire enough to become citizens.
Police and Corrections officials met the offenders on arrival and put them through a rigorous processing and induction procedure.
Those arriving yesterday are not the first serious offenders Australia has sent back.
Over the years serious young offenders, with gang links, have arrived back to the land they left when babies.
Older deportees, including the most serious of criminals, have made their way back across the Tasman from time-to-time.
What makes it all the more serious this time is the associated publicity with the arrival of those from Christmas Island, which has been wracked with violence in recent times.
Justice Minister Amy Adams says some of those returning offenders are serious and violent criminals.
While all the risk of them reoffending cannot be removed, the legislation introduced in Parliament under urgency and passed on Wednesday, is an important part of reducing risk for law-abiding New Zealanders.
Ms Adams acknowledges serious offenders have been returning to New Zealand for many years without supervision.
As a result of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill passing its third reading unopposed, this is no longer the case.
The minister says New Zealanders are better protected as a result.
It is hard to see how an already stretched Corrections Department can cope with the influx of these serious criminals.
The department, along with private prison operator Serco, has been severely criticised for a lack of security surrounding inmates in New Zealand prisons.
As it is understood, probation services are stretched to breaking point as funding has been kept under review.
Without a support network in New Zealand, it is difficult to imagine a so-called parole-like system working to ensure community safety.
The offenders will have to tell police their identification details including name, date and birth and address, and give their fingerprints.
DNA of the offenders will also be required.
These are the same obligations faced by people who have committed similar crimes in New Zealand.
Many of those arriving yesterday, and on future flights, are expected to appeal their deportation from Australia.
Prime Minister John Key has made assurances on that point.
Just how that will happen is yet to be revealed.
To appeal, those deportees need access to the Australian court system - something which will be difficult to gain from this side of the Tasman.
Corrections points out 12,000 people are released from New Zealand prisons annually and the newly-passed legislation means returning offenders can now be subject to the same level of oversight as offenders who have served a similar sentence in New Zealand.
The difference, however, is those arriving from Christmas Island probably do not want to stay in New Zealand.
Their frustration may turn to anger which, in turn, will result in violence.
The Government has meekly accepted Australia's actions as though New Zealand is still begging recognition from its larger neighbour.
The Government must guard against this country becoming a wider dumping ground for people Australia no longer wishes to house.
