Winston Peters engaged in a verbal tussle with a heckler on Tuesday morning, following comments he made on the potential punishment of Te Pāti Māori MPs.
The rail minister, joined by Transport Minister Chris Bishop, had just announced the government will spend more than $600 million to upgrade the country's rail network as part of this year's Budget.
At the end of the press conference, a member of the public heckled Peters as he was answering questions about the potential punishment to be debated in Parliament later that day.
Peters said the MPs had treated the Parliament protocols with "absolute contempt" when a passerby yelled "what a load of bollocks".
"Who said bollocks? You look like bollocks, go look in the mirror, sunshine. You look like bollocks, mate," Peters said.
The man took issue with being called sunshine and said Peters was a "tosser". Peters responded by telling the man to "naff off".
The man then said to Peters: "When are you going naff off? You're 80 years old now."
"Oh, so it's an age thing is it?" Peters said. "You look older than I do, mate."
The verbal spat continued for a short time longer before Peters wrapped up.
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