KEY POINTS:
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said she had a positive response to her actions in wading into a maul of scrapping teenagers outside a shopping mall.
She said about 40 members of the public had contacted her, saying "good on you". Others left messages on her Facebook wall.
"My colleagues are a little more wary of me, I think. They're not going to take me on in a hurry."
Prime Minister John Key was more restrained - noting it was "a brave move" but not one restricted to Ms Bennett alone.
"It's something that happens to New Zealanders every day. In some form or another a member of the public will undertake their civic duty and look to defuse a difficult position or show some leadership or kindness."
Asked if it was appropriate behaviour for a Cabinet minister, he said people had to assess whether it was safe to step in and their ability to cope with the situation.
"She followed her instincts. She obviously believed she could defuse the situation and she clearly successfully did. But anyone confronted with that situation, whether they're a Cabinet minister or not, needs to carefully assess their ability to cope and the risks they personally face."
Ms Bennett's efforts weren't enough to put her above her colleague Tau Henare in a Herald Online poll which asked which MP people would most want on their side if breaking up a fight.
The unscientific poll of 2775 respondents put Mr Henare in top place with 37 per cent - well ahead of Ms Bennett on 21 per cent.
Mr Henare was in a stoush in Parliament's lobby with Labour MP Trevor Mallard, who came in fourth with 12 per cent - one point behind Act leader Rodney Hide. Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia got 10 per cent. Last place went to Green Party MP and Parliament's greatest pacifist - Keith Locke, with 1 per cent.
* The public says:
Leon Walker, 21, banker
"Why not, if you're a citizen that cares. Any good citizen would have done the same thing."
Catherine Henderson, 43, office manager
"Fantastic, she's a brave woman. We need more people who are not afraid to stand up to those issues."
Benjamin Raela, 22, bartender
"She's being a good Samaritan and not only is she doing her job, but she's gone one further - to serve the community. Good for her."
Dean Cooley, 47, lecturer (Tasmania)
"She's a bit above her station. It's not her job to break it up. She could have been hurt."
Therese Collin, 18, tertiary student
"We were talking about it in school. It's kind of shocking to hear a minister being involved in stuff like that."
Jay Dudson, 31, financial services
"Very courageous. Maybe only one in 10,000 would do something like that. Good on her. It shows that she's a real person."
