Multi-party debate: Paula Bennett says error on human rights a moment of confusion

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. Photo / Andrew Warner

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett admitted she made a mistake when saying some people deserve fewer human rights than others.

In a multi-party debate hosted by The Spinoff in Auckland tonight, Bennett said her comments - made during the launch of a National Party policy on gangs last week - were not correct.

She mixed up legal rights and human rights in a moment of confusion, she said.

Her admission came amid an at-times heated debate that featured Bennett, TOP leader Gareth Morgan, Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox, Greens' Marama Davidson, NZ First's Shane Jones, ACT's David Seymour and Labour Party deputy Kelvin Davis.

Mistakes was a topic discussed at length - with both Seymour and Davis saying they'd tried to do "too much" as MPs and learned the lesson. Davis said trying to drive around his "huge" Te Tai Tokerau electorate could be a challenge.

He was interrupted by Bennett, who said "how are you going to be deputy prime minister then? You've got to be up for it, man!"

Davis countered, saying Bennett's electorate was only 20 minutes from her office and she wouldn't understand.

Morgan said he hadn't been in parliament and was yet to make a political mistake. Jones said he "had a PhD in mistakes", getting a laugh from the crowd.

Davidson and Fox both talked about the effect of their jobs on their kids, with Davidson saying she'd once told her daughter off for a Facebook post, worrying how it would look, and she was sorry about that.

The politicians also discussed transport, housing, crime and climate change.

The debate can be viewed on Facebook.

It was the latest in a varied series of debates this campaign.

The next is between Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Bill English tomorrow.