National Business Review deletes controversial tweets after political debate

Prime Minister Bill English and Labour leader Jacinda Ardern face off during last night's leader's debate on Newshub, hosted by journalist Paddy Gower. Photo/Newshub

Business magazine the National Business Review is reviewing its social media policy after admitting staff members "overstepped the mark" in tweets sent out during last night's political leaders debate.

A series of posts on the NBR's Twitter account suggested Labour leader Jacinda Ardern was being "superemotional" and used "puppy dog eyes and finger waggle" to make an emotive argument about homelessness - leading to accusations that NBR was being sexist.

Source / @KarlDotKiwi

Another tweet, captured by singer and NZHerald columnist Lizzie Marvelly, suggested Ardern was "deluded" about NZ's finances. It appears to have been deleted.

Screenshot of a tweet from the NBR's account during last night's political debate. Source/Twitter @LizzieMarvelly

Twitter/@LizzieMarvelly

Marvelly called the tweets "sexist bulls***" while Labour's finance spokesman Grant Robertson questioned whether the tweets represented the NBR's editorial stance.

Editor Duncan Bridgeman told the Herald the situation is still being reviewed this evening.

"I can say that the tone and opinions that were expressed on NBR Twitter last night weren't acceptable, and we are reviewing that."

NBR was still reviewing the situtation, but in future debates the posts would stick to the facts and steer away from emotive posts, he said.

"We allowed two inexperienced staff to tweet the coverage of the debate. Perhaps we could have had more oversight of that."

The situation is still being discussed internally but future social media coverage would likely have oversight from NBR's political experts, Bridgeman said.

He was also planning to contact directly people who found the tweets offensive.