The Prime Minister is taking an arm's length approach to Winston Peters' legal action.  

Winston Peters is taking a scattergun approach to those who he believes were behind the attempts to damage him during the election campaign wover the pension overpayment leak.

Jacinda Ardern said today at press conference that she was aware he would be taking legal action but said it is not an issue for her.

"He did give me a heads up that he intended to pursue this issue at the end of last week. I didn't have full details but I was aware that it would be happening.

"It is an issue for Mr Peters, and it is a personal matter."

NewstalkZB Political Editor Barry Soper said lawyers for the Foreign Minister are today serving papers on nine people, including former Ministers, bureaucrats and two journalists, seeking discovery of material relation to the leaks.

Papers have just been served on Newsroom editor Tim Murphy and will be on Newshub reporter Lloyd Burr.

They'll be followed by former Ministers Bill English, Paula Bennett, Steven Joyce and Anne Tolley, the PM's chief of staff Wayne Eagleson and Campaign press secretary Clark Hennessy and public service boss Brendon Boyle.

High Court proceedings for a hearing, a precursor to a damages claim have been set down for December the 13th.

LISTEN ABOVE AS BARRY SOPER SPEAKS TO KERRE AND MARK

Mike, the document server must have been from out of town. He eventually showed up with two weird papers from Peters. #motherofalllawsuits pic.twitter.com/kLEC9abV4l

— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) November 7, 2017

As an aside, @barrysoper gets big ups from Winston’s lawyer in one of the documents... pic.twitter.com/BG4AMvJUvX

— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) November 7, 2017

It is a real fishing expedition. Even the lawyers recognise of the defendants ‘some will have tortious liability, some will not’ ....

— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) November 7, 2017

Fishing. pic.twitter.com/3hbD7KafuQ

— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) November 7, 2017