Anderton slams anti-government extremists

12:30 PM

The Business Roundtable has come under fire at the Alliance party's annual conference, which opened in Wellington today.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has criticised the Roundtable, and other anti-government lobbyists, for trying to talk the country down.

In opening the conference, Jim Anderton accused the Business Roundtable and other critics of Kiwi bashing and militant anti-government extremism.

The Roundtable and the government have been at loggerheads since the Roundtable admitted funding a full page newspaper ad signed by hundreds of expat Kiwis criticising the country's economic direction.

Mr Anderton said the Roundtable is out of touch with most New Zealand businesses.

And he said their efforts to damage the country are unacceptable.

- IRN