Defence Minister Ron Mark has confirmed he got into a scuffle with a drunk man who stole his cowboy hat.

The NZ First MP was at a Fleetwood Mac tribute concert in Carterton on Saturday, December 7, when his cowboy hat - a regular part of his attire - was stolen by a punter he said was clearly intoxicated.

The resulting scuffle has since been spun through the Wairarapa town's rumour mill, and travelled over the Remutaka Range to the Beehive. 

Many privy to the rumour say Mark both threw and received a punch over the theft.

But Mark, on Tuesday, said throwing a punch would have been a "silly thing" for a Cabinet minister to do.

As sometimes happens, you've got someone who's had a few too much to drink, tried to steal my hat and then wouldn't give it back. 

He instead said he grabbed the man by his shirt.

"As sometimes happens, you've got someone who's had a few too much to drink, tried to steal my hat and then wouldn't give it back. 

"I asked for it back, he refused, he played silly games, hid it behind his back and in that, I grabbed him by the shirt. He eventually gave my hat back. 

 "And later on the evening we caught up, he apologised, I apologised, we shook hands, and that was it," he said.

Mark was "totally satisfied" his behaviour was adequate, and said rumours emerging from events involving alcohol should not be listened to.  

He could not explain why someone would want to steal the cowboy hat.

"You tell me why men who have been drinking suddenly decide they want to steal my hat. Sometimes men do silly things."

Mark said he was at the Seven Wonders Fleetwood Mac Showcase concert with his partner, Chris Tracey, celebrating her birthday. 

"It was a great concert ... You should go and see them," he said. 

A manager of the concert venue, Carterton Events Centre, said he was not aware of any incident related to the minister and his cowboy hat.