It looks unlikely Dunedin will resettle more refugees as part of the raised quota.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fulfilled a campaign pledge on Wednesday by announcing a rise in the annual refugee quota from 1000 to 1500 in 2020.
An Immigration New Zealand spokesman said yesterday it was unknown at this stage where the new refugees would be relocated.
However, Ms Ardern announced six new resettlement locations would be needed in New Zealand to house them.
Red Cross southern humanitarian services manager Sue Price said it understood the extra refugees would be resettled in the new locations.
However, the organisation was ready to raise the number taken in Dunedin if it was called to, she said.
"We would need to increase our resources, to make sure we were providing the same level of service.
"At the moment we're comfortable with the number we're supporting, and that's based on the staffing and other resources that we have."
Dunedin resettles 180 refugees per year.
Whether one of the new resettlement centres was created in Otago or Southland was entirely up to Immigration New Zealand, she said.
"We've learnt a lot about setting up new locations and are happy to share that information."
The increase in quota was great news for people waiting for resettlement, she said.
"It will make a huge difference to their lives."
Dunedin Refugee Steering Group chairman and Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins said it was also his understanding the quota increase would mean more resettlement centres around the country, rather than an increased expectation of existing locations like Dunedin.
"Former refugees are only placed here once Housing New Zealand has found houses for them. So for as long as they are able to do that, I would expect them to arrive in numbers up to the current rate of around 180 per year."
He was proud the country was "choosing to be more welcoming" at a time other countries were closing their doors to refugees, he said.
"This is a significant opportunity for us as a country to lift our game as global citizens."
Dunedin has resettled 499 refugees, mostly from Syria, but with some from Palestine and one from Jordan.
Invercargill has resettled 61 who are mostly from Colombia, with four from Ecuador.
