TVNZ debate woes: Mike Hosking sick, NZ First leader Winston Peters pulls out

NZ First leader Winston Peters has pulled out of tonight's TVNZ 1 debate, claiming there's no point in taking part because Labour and National won't be there.

Despite it being billed by TVNZ as the minor parties leaders debate, Peters said he had previously been assured by the state broadcaster that all parties would be involved.

And as host Mike Hosking has been forced to pull out because of illness, and now Peters' no-show, tonight's debate is in danger of becoming something of a fizzer.

Peters said he accepted TVNZ's invitation to take part in the debate, which is open to parties in Parliament or polling above 3 per cent in TVNZ's Colmar Brunton poll.

"I cleared my programme and accepted that invitation enthusiastically," he said.

"Hence, I was astonished, on a general inquiry late Tuesday, to be told by them that neither Labour nor National had ever accepted the invitation."

Because Labour and National "see little value in this debate and because of their absence, disappointingly, I have been driven to the same conclusion".

The Greens, the Maori Party and Act are all confirmed to appear, as is United Future's new leader Damian Light.

A Labour Party spokesman said the party had never agreed to take part in today's debate.

The Opportunities Party's Gareth Morgan failed in a legal bid to join the line-up on Thursday.

TVNZ political editor Corin Dann will moderate the debate in Hosking's absence.

"Viewers will know Mike's been off our screens since Wednesday. Unfortunately, he's too unwell to present Friday's debate," said John Gillespie, TVNZ's head of news and current affairs.