Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says his comment that Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is a "clown" was over the top, but says dealing with the city council is becoming frustrating.
Mr Brownlee reportedly made the comment about Mr Parker after the mayor said the government could fund some of the quake recovery costs by forcing the council to increase rates or sell assets.
He now says the remark was "over the top", Fairfax NZ reported.
"Dealing with this negative, going-nowhere stuff, I am at the end of my tether and frankly it's not surprising that the ratepayers are either."
He says Mr Parker's suggestion that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority could direct a rates increase to cover costs is not true.
"Given he was inaccurate in the first instance, I'm not going to comment on that."
Mr Brownlee says the "clown" comment, reported in the Christchurch Mail, was made during the height of infighting at the council, he told Radio New Zealand.
Last week about 2000 people held a protest outside the Christchurch City Council headquarters to vent their frustration. The group called for the council's chief executive Tony Marryatt to be sacked and Mr Parker to stand down.
Mr Marryatt was criticised over a $68,000 pay increase which he has since refused.
NZN