John Key

Wellington, Aug 31 NZPA - There is "no place" for threats to politicians in New Zealand politics, Prime Minister John Key said today.

His comment follows claims by Green MP Sue Bradford she has received an increased amount of abusive correspondence -- including an assassination threat, since the start of the smacking referendum.

Her member's bill in 2007 removed the defence of reasonable force when smacking children.

Mr Key said New Zealand prided itself on having "fierce debates", but "we don't resort to political assassination".

"People write stupid comments on social networking sites, so I don't know whether there's anything really sinister behind it, but there's no place for it in our political debate," he told Newstalk ZB.

Ms Bradford told NZPA she received one email that was "so awful" her secretary took it to the police based in Parliament.

Police began investigating the email and asked Ms Bradford if wanted to prosecute. She said yes.

Last week another seriously threatening email arrived and was referred to police.

A comment on online social networking site Twitter said Ms Bradford was a good candidate for political assassination.

Ms Bradford said the threats were "nothing big" and the "tip of the iceberg (of what) someone like me gets at a time like this".

The threats and abuse were worse when her bill was going through Parliament in two years ago, she said.

However, she was not complaining.

"It's part of the job," she said.

"I hate to think what the prime minister and cabinet ministers (get sent)."