Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says comments from one of his MPs about benefit sanctions being a good thing are not words he would use.
Greg O'Connor, Labour's Ohariu MP, is reported to have said sanctions are not necessarily a bad thing, and could be a good thing - particularly for those aged under 21-years-old.
Labour has been critical of the coalition government's increasing use of sanctions for beneficiaries who do not meet their obligations to get work-ready.
Last week, the government announced it will double how long breaches count against beneficiaries, with a new traffic light system coming into effect.
Hipkins responded by saying the government was more interested in kicking beneficiaries when they were down, than helping them back into work.
Speaking to media on Tuesday about O'Connor's comments, Hipkins said overall, Labour is sceptical of benefit sanctioning but he has never said there is no place for them.
"We've not said that we're completely opposed to sanctions, that's never been Labour's position, but right now when there's a shortage of jobs available we should be more focused on providing people with support, like training, to get them into sustainable long term employment," he said.
Hipkins plans to speak to O'Connor about his comments.