The first member of the so-called NZYQ cohort has been quietly sent to Nauru, marking the start of the government's plan to deport hundreds of convicted criminals to the tiny Pacific island.

Nauruan President David Adeang told his parliament on Friday that the first person had arrived under the new deal.

It comes about eight months after the Australian government announced Nauru had agreed to take the hundreds of former detainees released in the wake of a landmark High Court ruling that found indefinite detention was unlawful.

The new deal — which the government has repeatedly refused to release publicly — is separate to a pre-existing and ongoing arrangement for Nauru to run Australia's offshore processing regime.

"Nauru confirmed last Friday that the first transfer has occurred," H

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