# NZ Herald Powerbrokers' Debate: Political Clashes > Party leaders clash over housing, family violence and political alliances during NZ Herald's Powerbrokers' Debate. - Title: NZ Herald Powerbrokers' Debate: Political Clashes · NZ Herald - Summary: Party leaders clash over housing, family violence and political alliances during NZ Herald's Powerbrokers' Debate. Party leaders debated housing… - Keywords: nz herald, powerbrokers debate, winston peters, qiulae wong, david seymour, marama davidson, ryan bridge, housing affordability, family violence, political alliances, politics, news - Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/nz-herald-powerbrokers-debate-2026-most-outrageous-moments-clashes-and-political-digs/B4ORKKFY4ZEIJH65XUAEQATRAU - Read time: 2 min - Topics: nz herald, powerbrokers debate, winston peters, qiulae wong, david seymour, marama davidson, ryan bridge, housing affordability, family violence, political alliances, politics, news ## Powerbrokers Debate Highlights Party leaders clashed over housing affordability, family violence and potential political alliances during the NZ Herald's Powerbrokers' Debate. ## Bridge's 'Zip It, Sweeties' Remark Ryan Bridge borrowed a memorable line from former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett to interrupt David Seymour and Qiulae Wong's debate over housing policy. > zip it sweeties ## Peters on Childhood Smacking Winston Peters defended being smacked as a child during an exchange over New Zealand’s anti-smacking law, saying he 'thoroughly deserved' the discipline. > i thoroughly deserved them make no bones about it ## Seymour's Grammar Jab David Seymour corrected Marama Davidson's grammar during a discussion about family violence, calling it a 'low blow' from the boy scout. > low blow from the boy scout over here ## Peters on Luxon's 'Yahoo' Remark Winston Peters dismissed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's remark about not needing a 'yahoo or numpty' from another party as 'inexperience' rather than a backhander. > that s just inexperience ## Peters on Retirement Winston Peters shut down questions about retirement, stating he 'remains on a mission' and would prove political polls wrong. > i don t come here to talk about private matters do you mind ## Wong vs Seymour on Housing Qiulae Wong defended Opportunity’s land tax and citizen’s income policies as helping housing affordability, while David Seymour challenged their consistency with Opportunity’s policy document. > no it doesn t it s on our policy document david ## Peters on Child Discipline Winston Peters argued classrooms had become increasingly difficult to control, defending his childhood smacking experience as 'thoroughly deserved'. > i got a few smackings and guess what i thoroughly deserved them ## Peters on Coalition Partners Winston Peters stated his party would 'keep on trying' with coalition partners despite past bitter experiences with government. > we may not always get it right but we ll keep on trying ## Seymour's Grammar Correction David Seymour corrected Marama Davidson's grammar during a discussion about family violence, calling it a 'low blow' from the boy scout. > hopefully with better grammar too ## Peters on Family Violence Winston Peters discussed family violence policies, emphasizing the need for discipline in children without violence. > we can be a country that doesn t violent our children ## Wong on Housing Policy Qiulae Wong defended Opportunity’s proposed land tax and citizen’s income as helping young New Zealanders get on the property ladder. > it would help make housing more affordable ## Seymour's Policy Challenge David Seymour challenged Qiulae Wong’s answers on housing policy, suggesting they contradicted Opportunity’s own policy document. > no it doesn t it s on our policy document david ## Peters on Anti-Smacking Law Winston Peters defended the anti-smacking law, arguing classrooms had become increasingly difficult to control. > i got a few smackings and guess what i thoroughly deserved them ## Bridge's Intervention Ryan Bridge interrupted David Seymour and Qiulae Wong’s debate with a memorable line from former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett. > zip it sweeties ## Key takeaway Party leaders debated housing affordability, family violence and potential coalitions at the NZ Herald's Powerbrokers' Debate.