Newly leaked details about the Meka Whaitiri scandal are likely to be weighing on the mind of Jacinda Ardern in New York.

A draft report, leaked to the Herald, details the incident which led to Whaitiri being sacked as minister.

She is accused of grabbing a staffers arm from behind in Gisborne last month, but she denies that is what happened.

Political editor Barry Soper told Mike Hosking Ardern's office has made a last minute invitation to international media, so it can limit questions from the New Zealand press.

"Jacinda Ardern has to answer a couple of questions about this as the report clearly spells out exactly what happened."

LISTEN ABOVE AS BARRY SOPER SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING