15 Dec 2022

Climate protesters douse MP's offices in red paint

11:12 am on 15 December 2022
The electorate office of Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is covered in red paint, and a sign reading 'climate emergency' is on the window,

Electorate offices of government ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, were targeted in the protest. Photo: RNZ / Hamish Cardwell

Climate protesters have sprayed paint over electorate offices of several government ministers.

Police were at the scene of Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson's office in central Wellington this morning.

Restore Passenger Rail protesters demanding an increase in the regional rail network had put up signs reading 'climate emergency' and 'delay equals death'.

Transport Minister Michael Wood's office in Auckland was also targeted and Megan Woods' electorate office in Christchurch was sprayed with paint.

In Dunedin, the offices of government minister David Clark and National MP Michael Woodhouse were also hit by protesters.

Red paint on the wall of the Dunedin electorate office of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark, 15 December 2022.

David Clark's electorate office in Dunedin was targeted. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown

Robertson said it was extremely disappointing his Wellington office was vandalised.

Everyone had the right to protest, but this type of action could alienate people from the important cause of climate change, he said.

The group has staged previous action to disrupt road traffic, blocking Wellington's Transmission Gully and protesting on the top of gantry over State Highway 1 at Johnsonville in October.