NZ First MP Shane Jones is doubling down on his attack against Air New Zealand, calling for heads to roll after the airline's board voiced concern about political interference.

Mr Jones, the Minister for Regional Economic Development, is furious about the continued decline of regional flights saying the airline has "turned their back on small-town provincial New Zealand'.

But Air New Zealand chairman Tony Carter told Newshub on Tuesday evening that the Government needed to back off.

"Any appearance of a lack of commercial independence is viewed seriously by the Air New Zealand Board and is ultimately potentially damaging to the interests of all shareholders, including the Crown," he said.

Air New Zealand CEO Chris Luxton has voiced similar concerns.

But on Wednesday morning Mr Jones came out swinging, telling the CEO to stay out of politics.

"If you want to be a politician step down today. Otherwise get back into your box," he told Stuff.

And on RNZ this morning, Mr Jones took on the entire board:

"The board in my view are no longer serving a purpose that suits the entirety of New Zealand because they are short changing the provinces."

He said that the chairman should be the start of a change to the board, and growth and connectivity in the regions would not improve unless the board changed.

The opposition has been quick to criticise Mr Jones, with National MP Paul Goldsmith calling for him to "get some discipline".