National leader Simon Bridges accidentally mangled his deputy leader's name, calling Paula Bennett, "Paula Benefit".

Bridges was discussing Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters' attacks on him and his co-leader when he accidentally uttered the insult.

"Winston Peters spends a huge amount of time on me, on Paula Ben, Benefit, Bennett," Bridges said. "Let's start that again," he then laughed.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF Simon Bridges accidentally called Paula Bennett "Paula Benefit" in an interview.

Bridges' error was a somewhat embarrassing slip of the tongue, but it's far from the first time someone has accidentally or maliciously got Bennett's surname wrong.

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The "Paula Benefit" nickname was often slung around during Bennett's Minister for Social Development, referring to her past as solo mum relying on the Domestic Purposes Benefit.

One heard it yelled from the opposition benches but more strongly from the political blogosphere.

The implication - given her Government was cutting a training incentive allowance she had once used - was that she was pulling the ladder up after her.

Green MP Gareth Hughes admitted it was a "tired gaffe" when he accidentally called Bennett the nickname at a 2011 candidates meeting.

Then Breakfast host Petra Bagust managed it - again by mistake - in 2012.