Sportswriter Phil Gifford says Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters did call Dame Susan Devoy overweight in 1987.

Peters has denied reports he told Devoy at an event in 1987 that she was a "bit round" and should lose some weight.

Devoy revealed the alleged comments at Q+A at the TP McLean sports journalism awards in Auckland on Thursday night.

She said the "obnoxious" NZ First leader had told her to walk the length of New Zealand to lose a few kilograms.

READ MORE: Peters needs to know he's not funny: Devoy

Longtime sportswriter and broadcaster Gifford was with Devoy at the original function - a sports media awards dinner - in Auckland's North Shore in 1987.

Winston Peters denies making the remarks in 1987, as the then-world squash star Susan Devoy was about to walk the length of the country for charity.

"He said he really admired her because she was a stone [6.4kg] overweight and yet she could still win world titles," Gifford told Stuff.

"He said it a couple of times and Susan [Devoy] was furious. I believe it was one of the stupidest things I've ever heard a politician say in a speech.

"When he had finished and sat down, Susan [Devoy] finished our conversation and walked over to confront him about it. He left very soon after.

"I have no idea why he would deny it... Bizarrely enough I don't think he thought of it as a joke I think he thought he was paying her a compliment.

"I'm also really really bugged that there's a denial from Winston that somehow Susan just dreamed this whole thing up. She's not Donald Trump."

Peters has denied both Gifford's and Devoy's account of the event.

"I am aghast to read the Human Rights Commissioner's claims," Peters said.

"I never told her to 'lose weight', or that she was 'a bit round', or that she should 'walk the length of New Zealand to lose a few kilograms'.

"Dame Susan Devoy's memory is failing her. What I did say, a long time ago prior to her walking the length of New Zealand in 1998, was meant to be a compliment.

"I said that the then-Susan Devoy's sporting skill was of such a level that she could beat the best in the world even when she wasn't fit."

When asked for comment on Gifford's account of the event by Stuff, Peters called a press conference and said he did "not recall" saying she was a stone overweight.

"It was patently obvious she wasn't fit," Peters said but wouldn't clarify how exactly he had worked this out.

"I made the statement as a compliment, and that would be normal then and now... It's a common sporting parlance."

He said as the timing of two events differed in each account neither could be trusted. He said he trusted Gifford's version of the events - other than the comment about her being a stone overweight.

Peters said Devoy had never confronted him about the issue or asked for an apology in the proceeding three decades.

Devoy's version of the event was made public with a tweet by Newsroom editor Tim Murphy.

A spokeswoman for Devoy said the commissioner "prefers to leave her comments as they are".

​An attendee at the awards confirmed what Devoy said but indicated the situation was quite lighthearted.

One attendee said Dame Susan made a "very funny" speech, yet seemed annoyed her remarks had been tweeted.

Master of ceremonies Laura McGoldrick told the function Devoy wanted to thank those who had tweeted out her comments, as her phone was running hot.

Devoy and Peters have a rocky past.

The commissioner was critical of Peters' 2014 comment that "two Wongs don't make a white", saying it was "shameful" for New Zealand politicians to make fun of an entire race of people.