NO MANDATE: NZ First party leader Winston Peter addresses a protest against asset sales at Parliament.

Winston Peters experienced technical issues this afternoon after a screaming protester threatened to cut his microphone at a state assets protest.

Occupy Wellington protester Jonathan Elliot, who organised the anti-asset sales rally on the steps of Parliament today, launched into an abusive tirade against Mr Peters over a misunderstanding on whether he would speak or not.

Shortly before Mr Peters addressed about 70 people who braved Wellington's rainy weather, Mr Elliot told the crowd the NZ First Leader had reneged on a promise to address the gathering.

CHRIS SKELTON/Fairfax NZ SHUT IT DOWN: Protester Jonathan Elliot pulls the plug out for the microphone during a speech from Winston Peters.

When Mr Peters took the microphone soon afterwards, Mr Elliot launched in to a tirade of personal abuse.

Shouting at Mr Peters, Mr Elliot said "if you f...... lie again I will turn you off. Speak the truth Winston," Mr Elliot said.

At this point Mr Elliot cut the sound to the microphone saying "I own the microphone."

"I received an email from him, through his party, which said he would speak to the rally. All he is trying to do is grandstand," Mr Elliot said.

Mr Peters then asked supporters to get over by the public address system and make sure Mr Elliot did not cut the sound again.

The NZ First then asked the crowd if they were interested in hearing him speak.

"If so tell this guy to get away from the microphone," Mr Peters said.

"He is not the national censor. Do you believe in freedom of speech? Do you believe in democracy and the right to make your views heard?

"Well it's not going to happen when you've got a guy like that on the microphone deciding he will censor something if he does not like the sound of it," he said.

The speaking-rights spat over, Mr Peters said the Key administration did not have a mandate to sell off state assets, including partial power company sales.

"The Maori Party campaigned against this - so too did the United Future Party so there goes their mandate," Mr Peters said.

Other speakers at the rally included Green Party co-leader Russell Norman, Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove and Mana Party leader Hone Harawira who all opposed state asset sales.

Mr Harawira thanked the NZ Maori Council for choosing to take the issue of asset sales to court.

He also expressed disappointment that his former Maori Party colleagues were not present at the rally.

"I am disappointed but I am not surprised. I'm disappointed because you do not threaten to walk out on the coalition...while you stay hiding in your parliamentary limousines. Issues like this are issues of principle and on issues of principle you stand or you walk," Mr Harawira said.

Mr Norman noted the crowd at the rally was small but he said they represented the vast majority of New Zealanders.

"This campaign is not going to end here today," Mr Norman said.