ACT leader David Seymour says pro-Palestinian protesters are doing "no good for their cause" protesting at politicians' homes and community events.
Seymour was at the opening of the independent Fresh in Fresh Out (FIFO) in Hamilton when protesters disrupted the ribbon-cutting event.
Appearing on AM's political panel with Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, Seymour criticised the protesters.
"They're absolutely doing no good for their cause," Seymour said.
"… It seems to be part of this culture of 'our cause is so important we don't have to respect any norms or conventions, or anyone else's rules'."
FIFO is taking on the supermarket monopoly in the suburb of Nawton, where Countdown closed last year due to persistent crime in the area.
He said a thousand people had turned up to celebrate the opening of the supermarket and they didn't take much notice of the protesters.
The group, waving flags of Palestine, were chanting "Seymour, Seymour you can't hide, you're supporting genocide" and "free, free Palestine".
"These turkeys come along with their megaphone and try to disrupt it… You want to protect democracy in the Middle East, well good on you, but you're not going to do that by interrupting it here."
Over the weekend, pro-Palestinian protesters were also outside the homes of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and at least one other MP where children were present.
Swarbrick told the panel she can see why the protesters are frustrated as they don't feel as though the Government is taking enough action. However, Swarbrick added, particularly when MPs' children become implicated in protests, she personally feels it "crosses the line".
Seymour said New Zealand doesn't want to end up in a place where people can't protest, however, protest movements are not effective when no one approves it.
"No one's going to say that it's going to help anybody to go and be outside a member of Parliament's house… None of that is actually going to make people think 'Gee, those guys have got a point'."
Watch the full panel above.
Newshub.
