Labour MP Sue Moroney has been criticised after attacking an unnamed Kyle Lockwood flag supporter on Twitter.

The owners of a Waihi Beach home attacked by Labour MP Sue Moroney for flying Kyle Lockwood's Silver Fern flag outside their "flash beach house" say they are shocked by her remarks.

The Hamilton-based MP has apologised for her remarks after being disciplined by Labour leader Andrew Little, who called the comments "ill-judged and inappropriate".

Moroney said her remarks were not hypocritical, despite the fact she also owns a Coromandel holiday home.

SUPPLIED/TWITTER Labour MP Sue Moroney's tweet (since deleted) attacked the owner of a "flash beach house" for flying the Silver Fern flag.

She also claimed her remarks were misinterpreted "in several different ways" - although she will not explain what she originally meant.

One National MP described Moroney's words as "extraordinarily mean-spirited and stupid", coming after the Lockwood design failed to defeat the current flag in the final stage of New Zealand's flag referendum.

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In a post on Twitter from Monday, after preliminary results were announced last week, Moroney shared a photo of a house still flying the Lockwood design, adding: "Just ' is [sic] you own a flash beach house doesn't mean you get to decide our flag."

A family member of the beach house's owners, who did not want to be named, said Moroney's comments had upset them.

"We are shocked by her comments vilifying us for owning a beach house and....suggesting that because we are apparently 'rich', this does not give us the right to have an opinion on our national flag.

"Her judgements came across badly and we did not appreciate having photos of our property published online simply, because we had a different opinion on the flag choice."

The woman had contacted Little to share her concerns, and her family had since received a personal apology from Moroney, who deleted the post as requested.

National list MP Chris Bishop was among those to criticise Moroney's tweet, calling it "extraordinarily mean-spirited and stupid".

This really is an extraordinarily mean-spirited and stupid tweet https://t.co/gcvEWQqM0J — Christopher Bishop (@cjsbishop) March 28, 2016

Moroney was criticised by others on Twitter, with one saying that "people are allowed to have nice things and hold views...different to yours".

@suemoroney people are allowed to have nice things and hold views that are different to yours. — christoper anderson (@christoperande1) March 28, 2016

@suemoroney Did this person really offend you by flying their favourite flag, or because they had a flash beach house Sue? — Hamish Price (@hamishpricenz) March 28, 2016 'MISINTERPRETED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS' Moroney said her comments had been misinterpreted "in several different ways". "I just apologise for it and move on, because I've come to Parliament to debate issues of real relevance and so it's a side issue, I don't want it to overshadow all of the important issues that we've got in front of us." However, Moroney would not explain how exactly her comments had been misinterpreted, or the original intent of her tweet. "Oh look, no, I've apologised for it, I regret it, and I've got no further comment apart from that." She did not plan to delete the tweet, but would be happy to do so if people asked. "I'm one of those people who believes that you own your tweets, I've owned it, I've apologised for it, and if people do want me to delete it, I'm happy to do that, but it's Twitter - that's what it is." 'CLEARLY NOT OPPOSED TO BACH OWNERSHIP' According to Parliament's register of pecuniary interests, Moroney jointly owns a holiday home in the Coromandel. However, she denied her remarks were hypocritical - although she would not explain why she made the "flash beach house" remark. "The issue wasn't about that...I'm a bach owner myself, so I'm clearly not opposed to bach ownership, so I'll leave it at that." Labour leader Andrew Little said the tweet had been brought to his attention on Tuesday morning, and it was "not a good look."

"I thought it was ill-judged and inappropriate, and I've told her that."

Moroney apologised for her remarks via Twitter, saying: "I regret it and see how it could be misinterpreted."

Apology for any offence caused by my tweet yesterday - none intended. I regret it & can see how it could be misinterpreted. Of course ..... — Sue Moroney (@suemoroney) March 28, 2016 ...everyone has the right to have a view on the flag. — Sue Moroney (@suemoroney) March 28, 2016

ANOTHER FLAG TWEET FAIL

Moroney is not the first MP to fall victim to a misguided flag tweet.

In the UK, Labour MP Emily Thornberry resigned from the party's shadow cabinet after posting a picture of a Rochester house flying two St George's Cross flags.

According to The Guardian, some felt there was "an air of contempt" in Thornberry tweeting the picture of a working-class home.