Greenpeace protesters turned out on Parliament's lawn in inflatable cow suits and dressed as the Prime Minister and Climate Minister to "highlight Government inaction on climate".
Protesters showed up on Thursday dressed in cow costumes and others wore masks with Jacinda Ardern and James Shaw's faces to highlight what the group said is the Government's use of greenwashing.
"We must call it by its name: greenwash, not climate action," said Greenpeace's lead climate campaigner Christine Rose.
Greenwashing describes how a company purports to be environmentally conscious for marketing purposes but isn't making any notable sustainability efforts.
Rose said greenwashing isn't real action on Aotearoa's biggest climate polluter, which Greenpeace said is intensive dairy.
Greenpeace's demonstration saw protesters dressed as Ardern and Shaw use paint brushes to "greenwash" dressed-up cows.
"We've just seen Prime Minister Ardern boasting of New Zealand's climate credentials in New York, but she was talking about the toothless Zero Carbon Act and the ineffectual industry partnership He Waka Eke Noa," said Rose.
Pictures from the demonstration show protesters dressed as Ardern and Shaw sporting large cardboard cutouts of the Prime Minster and Climate Change Minister's faces.
Big plumes of green smoke can be seen billowing out of a makeshift factory, representing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.
Rose said He Waka Eka Noa is Aotearoa's main plan to cut agricultural emissions.
"Yet the scheme is predicated to reduce emission by only one percent and actually favour the country's worst polluter - intensive dairy."
They added Greenpeace, along with other environmental groups, argue regulatory tools like phasing out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and seeing a reduction in herd numbers are required.
"Our children and grandchildren deserve a future with a safe and stable climate."
Shaw, who is co-leader of the Green Party, said in a statement to Newshub that his party has taken more action to protect the climate in the last 30 years of all governments combined.
"The only reason NZ has a plan to cut climate pollution in every part of Aotearoa is because of the Greens in Government," he said.
"The only reason we have plans to invest $4.5 billion over the next three years building the future our children deserve is because of the Greens in Government."
He acknowledges that it's not enough and that more is needed.
"We know time is running out."
Newshub approached the Prime Minister's Office for comment.
