NZ detainee death at Villawood centre

A New Zealand detainee at a Sydney immigration detention centre has died overnight from a suspected heart attack following a heated argument.

Rob Peihopa, 42, was involved in a disagreement with other detainees at the Villawood detention centre and then collapsed and could not be saved by paramedics, fellow detainee Vaelua Lagaaia told AAP.

"With the stress of this place the brother has had a heart attack," he said.

Peihopa had been in Villawood for about 10 months and was fighting the efforts of Australian authorities to have him deported, Lagaaia said.

Last year, Peihopa told Maori Television he had moved across the ditch in 1989 and has a partner and three sons.

Two years previously he had been given a two-year prison sentence for his part in a police chase.

The immigration department confirmed staff were alerted to an unconscious man at about 9.45pm (AEST) and attempted to resuscitate him but he was unable to be revived.

"The man is suspected to have suffered a heart attack," a spokesman said in a statement.

He said the detention centre remains calm and support services were available to detainees.

The department expressed its sympathy to the family of the deceased man, the spokesman said.

NSW Police told AAP officers will prepare a report for the coroner.

The New Zealand High Commission in Canberra has been notified of the death and told AAP it is in touch with relevant Australian authorities.

There were 181 Kiwis in immigration detention in Australia as of late February.

More than 500 Kiwis have had their visas automatically revoked since December 2014, when the Australian government introduced tough new immigration rules cracking down on foreign-born convicted criminals.

Foreigners who have served more than 12 months in Australian jails are being rounded up for deportation.

New Zealanders are the biggest country group affected by the law change.

So far 36 detainees have won appeals out of the 73 finalised.