Footage shows Labour candidate Michael Wood in a feisty altercation with the husband of a National Party rival, Parmjeet Parmar.

Raw footage of an altercation between Labour candidate Michael Wood and the husband of a National Party rival appears to throw cold water on claims of an assault.

The drama unfolded at a Central Leader Mt Roskill by-election debate between Labour candidate Michael Wood and National's Parmjeet Parmar on Wednesday.

Wood is seen confronting his rival's husband after the debate, who he accused of making comments about his wife Julie Fairey, the former chair of the Puketapapa Local Board.

BEVAN READ/Stuff.co.nz Footage revealing the altercation between Michael Wood and Ravinder Parmar after the Mt Roskill debate.

Parmar said, when contacted on Saturday, Wood "absolutely over-reacted to this, his response was disproportionate".

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She denies any personal comments were made about Wood's wife, "other than to state factually that she is on the local board".

Chris Skelton The stage at the Fickling Centre saw Labour's Michael Wood and National's Parmjeet Parmar go head-to-head.

Wood said since the confrontation, "basically I've been accused of criminal assault".

He denies that he "manhandled" Parmar's husband Ravinder, and didn't do anything more than have a few stern words. The footage shows a small confrontation that is quickly quelled.

Wood said he was frustrated by the ongoing personal attacks by his rival and her supporters.

"I'm making a call for it to stop," he said.

"I think this has been a really unfortunate incident and I want to get back to a positive campaign."

Labour leader Andrew Little called a media conference on Saturday and said Wood had the right to defend his wife.

"What we are seeing from the National party seems to be a tactic of disrupting meetings, then lying about it and then trying to swap the story around because they don't appear to have anything to say about those crucial issues."

Parmar said Wood's conduct was a matter for him and the Labour party.

More than 160 people turned out for the debate hosted by the Central Leader and live streamed on its Facebook page.

Issues included the housing development at the Three Kings Quarry, Labour's light rail proposal, the closing of the Mt Roskill police station to the public, school funding and immigration.

The night began with protesters outside the building voicing frustration at Parmar, who is of Indian descent, over the proposed deportation of Indian students due to visa fraud.