Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has accused Bill Shorten of treacherous behaviour over the latest development in the Federal Parliament's citizenship crisis.

Key points: Joyce's status as a NZ citizen emerged after a NZ Labour MP asked a written question about the issue

Joyce's status as a NZ citizen emerged after a NZ Labour MP asked a written question about the issue Bishop demands Shorten reveal who made contact with the NZ Labour Party

Bishop demands Shorten reveal who made contact with the NZ Labour Party NZ Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says the question was unacceptable and "shouldn't have happened"

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce revealed on Monday he was a dual New Zealand citizen, but argued he was still eligible to sit in Parliament and asked the High Court to make a ruling.

His citizenship status emerged after New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins asked a written question about the issue.

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus revealed late yesterday that it was a staff member in Senator Penny Wong's office who prompted the questions.

Mr Dreyfus said there was nothing wrong with sharing information with other Labour parties.

Senator Wong said her staffer had mentioned the issue was part of an informal discussion with friends and that it was questions from journalists that had resulted in the disclosure of Mr Joyce's second citizenship.

"A staff member in my office had informal discussions with New Zealand friends about domestic political issues, including the section 44 debate," Senator Wong said in a statement.

"New Zealand Minister Peter Dunne has since confirmed it was questions by Fairfax journalists, and not the question on notice, which led to the ousting of Mr Joyce as a New Zealand citizen.

"For the Turnbull Government to then turn this into a diplomatic incident to try to distract attention from the failings of the Deputy Prime Minister is both reckless and damaging."

Ms Bishop had earlier accused the Australian Labor Party of trying to use the New Zealand Parliament to undermine the Australian Government, saying it put the relationship between the two governments at risk.

Sorry, this video has expired 'We shouldn't have been involved'

Mr Hipkins' party leader Jacinda Ardern said the question was unacceptable and that she was happy to discuss the issue with Ms Bishop on the phone.

"From my perspective, we've made it clear it shouldn't have happened but ultimately it was questions raised by the media that caused this situation, rather than questions from us," she said.

"I wanted to make clear our level of involvement because we've been implicated far beyond what we should have been."

Ms Ardern said it was "highly regrettable that the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has chosen to make false claims about the New Zealand Labour Party".

She invited Ms Bishop to call her to "clarify matters".

"I greatly value New Zealand's relationship with the Australian Government. I will not let false claims stand in the way of that relationship," Ms Ardern said.

"I have also contacted the Australian High Commission to register my disappointment and will be meeting with the High Commissioner later today."

Senator Wong, Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman, said the party was deeply disappointed that Ms Bishop has been prepared "to risk relations with our close friend and ally".

"I would urge the Government to reflect on the wisdom of using the credibility of the Foreign Minister in this manner, and to move swiftly to repair relations with parties of government in New Zealand."

Government threatening to refer up seven ALP MPs

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told his party room Mr Shorten wants to steal government by entering into a conspiracy with a foreign power.

The Government has also threatened to refer up to seven members of the Federal Opposition to the High Court.

Sorry, this video has expired Turnbull hits out at Shorten's 'conspiring' with NZ Labour

Mr Turnbull urged Labor to clear up questions about the citizenship of some of its MPs on Monday, but Mr Shorten refused.

Senior Cabinet Minister Christopher Pyne said earlier yesterday there were question marks over seven Labor MPs and he had not ruled out asking the High Court to rule on at least some.

The seven Labor members include four who Mr Pyne targeted yesterday: Susan Lamb, Tony Zappia, Justine Keay and Maria Vamvakinou.

The other three are Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese.

Sorry, this video has expired Malcolm Turnbull says High Court will find Barnaby Joyce is qualified to sit in the House

Mr Pyne called on them to produce documents to show they had successfully renounced citizenship of other countries.

"All they need to do is produce the evidence that they are qualified to be in the House of Representatives, that they've renounced their citizenship successfully," he said.

"The Labor Party needs to produce the evidence or the Government will obviously consider its options."

Federal Labor insists it is confident that all its MPs are eligible, but it is refusing to release any documents to back the claim.

Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon defended that position yesterday, calling the issue a distraction.

Labor is demanding that Mr Joyce resign from the front bench until the High Court makes its ruling.