A Labour Minister is standing by calling climate protesters who blocked several motorways in Wellington stupid, dangerous, deplorable and idiotic.
Protesters from an activist group called Restore Passenger Rail have been causing chaos in the capital over the past month, repeatedly blocking motorways to call for better public transport.
The protests didn't go down well with commuters who faced long wait times due to them and earned them a telling-off from Transport Minister Michael Wood.
And it's a reprimand he stands by telling AM co-host Melissa Chan-Green on Friday the group's actions were dangerous and counterproductive.
"I'm usually pretty restrained in my language but the group which decided to block key transport routes around Wellington, I think earned those epithets," Wood said. "I'm pleased they've backed off from them now. That behaviour was dangerous and it was counterproductive."
Wood also stood by writing a letter to the group saying he was willing to meet with them if they stop blocking motorways.
But the letter didn't go down well with National MP Paul Goldsmith who was appearing on AM alongside Wood.
Goldsmith said he didn't think Wood should meet with the group and used the discussion to take a wider crack at the Government over its transport policies.
"The broader issue in transporters is this Minister is making us crawl around at 30km/h everywhere and we've got places to go, we've got things to do," Goldsmith said.
"Transport should be about enabling us to get around quickly and efficiently and I think it's a broader issue that all New Zealanders are getting wound up about at the moment and this determination to make us crawl around everywhere."
Wood took a joking jab at Goldsmith in response to his criticism saying, "well done getting your talking points in there".
He went on to defend the Government, saying it had invested record amounts into transport, which is making a difference.
"With this particular group, what I've said to them is, 'I'm not going to meet with you while you're carrying out these activities. If you stop them, I'll consider your request as I consider requests from other groups who want to meet with me'.
"That's how I'll take it forward. I think that's a reasonable way of approaching it. We're a Government which is investing in passenger rail. We think that's a good thing but what we're just saying is engage constructively, don't do these activities which are dangerous and inconvenience other citizens," Wood said.
Restore Passenger Rail is a climate action group demanding the Government restore passenger rail to the extent it was in 2000 by reopening now freight-only lines and introducing new lines.
It wants affordable and accessible services aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
