A Labour MP says he has seen a copy of a bill aiming to ban under-16s from social media, but is not allowed to share it with the rest of his party.

The legislation was put on hold in May by Education Minister Erica Stanford, who is responsible for reviewing it.

Labour's science, technology and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson told media he had seen the bill while in the minister's office, but was not allowed to take a copy to share with the wider Labour caucus.

He said that made it "very difficult" for Labour to make any decision on it.

"I think it's unusual to ask someone to make a decision if they don't have the thing they're being asked to make a decision about in front of them.

"The issue is that the minister isn't able to provide a bill for a caucus, who ultimately would make the decision to be able to consider it."

Davidson said he first saw a copy of the bill some time last month and had asked for a copy of the bill at follow-up meetings.

He would not comment on the specifics of the bill: "Those are questions you could take to the minister," he said.

"Once our full caucus has been able to see the bill in its entirety, then we'll be able to reach a position on whether we support the bill and the specific details or components of the bill."

Davidson denied Labour was "stalling" the process.

"It's very hard to claim that someone is stalling or that a caucus is stalling on making a decision when they haven't been able to see the bill that they're being asked to make a decision about..

"We've said the whole way through that this issue is too important to play politics."

Asked what platforms would be banned under the legislation, Davidson, again, said questions should be directed to Stanford. However, he said no VPN ban was in the proposed legislation.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said if the government wanted Labour's support for the bill it would need to engage more "fulsomely".

"Makes it very difficult for us to have an informed conversation about it, and you'd need to do that if they're seriously asking us for support."

Stanford was approached for comment.