Climate activist Adam Currie and five other protesters climbed into cable cars used to transport coal at Stockton Mine at 5am on Monday to stop the mine from operating.
The action followed on from about 70 protesters camping on Denniston Plateau for five days in opposition to mining company Bathurst Resources seeking fast-track approval to expand its operation.
The Resources Minister condemned the protesters for their "selfish and dangerous actions that put themselves and others at risk".
Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson also told the out-of-town protesters to "bugger off and go back to where you came from".
Mr Currie said the six activists were high up in a tower and had been braving "torrential rain and quite windy conditions" but were confident in their decision to oppose the fast-track.
He said the group’s morale was great, they were cosy where they were and were committed to staying on the site for as long as it took for their message to be clear that there could be no new coal mines.
"We’ve already been here overnight and we’ll stay here longer, if necessary."
Mr Currie said the protest was a reaction to the "extreme situation" that Mr Jones, government minister David Seymour and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon — a group he referred to as "climate radicals" — had created with a "undemocratic" fast-track Bill.
"I’d much rather be celebrating Easter with my family and going tramping or celebrating time with my loved ones instead of taking action in a wet coal mine," he said.
The present action was small and demonstrated people were willing to show up and cause disruption if the government allowed for the mine to expand.
Mr Currie said the group had extremely safe practices for the protest and were not a danger to themselves or anyone else.
Mr Jones said he could not fathom the mentality of the "blow-ins" who thought they had the right to speak for hundreds of people who derived their living from mining,
"I’m not sure if they have realised New Zealand is probably the only country transitioning from renewables to coal as Kiwis face down an economic downturn and rising power prices at the onset of winter.
"This lack of awareness and consideration for others is mind-boggling. New Zealand is relying on a stockpile of 1.2million tonnes of coal to keep the lights on this winter. Where do these activists think it comes from if not from mines?"
University of Otago zoology and archaeology student Annabel Hankin was one of the protesters issued with a trespass notice by Bathurst.
She said she was proud of the work she had done and found the comments by Mr Jones and Mrs Gibson insulting.
"Climate change affects us all and so I find it insulting that they would try and silence us from this conversation that we’re having.
"Even though I’m from Ōtepoti, I have care for all of the land from Aotearoa and I want my voice to be heard along with all the people’s voices to be heard when we stand up against these mining processes being fast-tracked."
