Paula Bennett has used National Party members' extramarital activities to muddy the waters before, former Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox has claimed in an explosive interview.

Appearing on The Hui on Sunday morning with former National MP Tau Henare, the pair slammed National Party leader Simon Bridges' handling of the Jami-Lee Ross saga, Ms Fox saying Ms Bennett's implication Mr Ross had an extramarital affair was "classic Paula".

Ms Fox said after Mr Bridges made a "hash job" of the inquiry into his leaked expenses, Ms Bennett had to intervene.

"[She] walked in, slayed it, threw some shade on Jami-Lee, showed that she would be loyal no matter what, and did a hatchet job on him. [She] said 'thank you very much' and waltzed on out in her leopard print suit," she told host Mihingarangi Forbes.

"When there has been information that needed to be leaked to muddy the waters or get away from something" Ms Bennett had often stepped in, said Ms Fox.

"There was only one path, and that was all out war on [Jami-Lee Ross]".