The law managing criminals deported from Australia is helping keep New Zealanders safe, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

About 70 per cent of deportees returned to New Zealand since the law passed in November are being supervised by New Zealand authorities.

File photo.

'It's pleasing to see the laws we passed late last year are operating as intended and the most serious deported offenders are being supervised to both ensure public safety and assist their re-integration into society,” says Amy.

By February 9, there have been 105 offenders returned to New Zealand since the Act came into force on November 18, 2015. Of the 105, 73 (70 per cent) have been found to be automatically eligible for supervision of varying periods.

The remaining 30 per cent are not eligible for automatic supervision because they served less than one year in prison or were deported on character grounds not relating to a conviction.

Three of that group are the subject of successful applications to supervise offenders who are not automatically eligible.

More than 40 applications have been made for special conditions to be imposed by the courts. All 105 returning offenders have had identifying particulars and DNA collected from them.

'I've said throughout that while there is always a risk of reoffending, as there is with any offender who leaves prison, this law goes a long way to mitigate that risk for law-abiding New Zealanders. Early indications show the law is working as intended,” says Amy.