Note: This story was first published on Thursday, April 5.

With the Prime Minister and National's leader absent from Parliament today, Winston Peters and Paula Bennett were left to butt heads during Question Time.

National's deputy leader was questioning the deputy prime minister about the Radio NZ Clare Curran scandal when the two got into a heated exchange over their absent leaders.

"Where's your man? Where's your man?" Mr Peters shot back at Ms Bennett when she raised the fact that the Prime Minister wasn't present to answer.

Speaker Trevor Mallard then had to interject into proceedings with the familiar shout of "order" before Mr Peters responded "she started it" while taking his seat.