Defence Minister Ron Mark in scuffle over cowboy hat

Defence Minister Ron Mark says he grabbed a man by the shirt during the scuffle. Photo / Facebook

Defence Minister Ron Mark has admitted to getting into a scuffle with a man who took his signature cowboy hat at a concert.

Mark says he was at a Fleetwood Mac tribute show in Carterton on December 7 when a drunk man snatched his Stetson.

"I asked for it back. He refused. He played silly games, hid it behind his back and I grabbed him by the shirt. He eventually gave my hat back," the New Zealand First MP told reporters on Tuesday.

"Later on the evening we caught up. He apologised, I apologised, we shook hands, and that was it."

Mark, who this year recorded his first country music album, is frequently seen wearing the hat.

He chalked up the other man's behaviour to drinking.

"Sometimes men do silly things," Mark said.

NZ First leader Winston Peters had a few choice words about the situation.

"I'd do something about it if he'd stolen my hat," Peters told Newshub.

"I'd make sure he didn't feel like stealing another hat for a long time, that's what I'd do."

Earlier this year, NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell was reportedly thrown out of a bar after failing to get out of the way of bar staff.

Mitchell said he was escorted from the bar following a misunderstanding.