Watch: Erik Kennedy speaks with Newshub. Credits: Newshub

Climate change activists have set up camp outside a mine in Southland to call for an end to coal mining. 

Thirty Extinction Rebellion protesters have stopped operations at the Takitimu coal mine in Nightcaps on Monday. 

Protesters have erected two large wooden towers to block the mine's entrance while others locked themselves to a coal sorting conveyor belt inside the mine. Large statues have also been put up and protesters can be seen wearing pirate costumes and cow onesies. 

Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Erik Kennedy told Newshub they are staying put until their message is heard. 

"We are in the middle of a climate crisis, the Government has declared a climate emergency but instead of scaling back coal mining, the owners of this mine, Bathurst Resources Ltd are actually expanding operations," Kennedy said. 

"They're trying to explore a forestry block for more coal and that's absurd. It's inconsistent with our international obligations and frankly our moral obligations and we are here to make sure that message gets heard. " 

Kennedy said there are activists from across the country at the site and they have supplies to camp out for "a number of days".

"We don't have to go anywhere immediately. The real answer is that we are here until the message that we need to get off coal is heard and listened to.

"We are optimistic that will be the case. The people of Aotearoa New Zealand want us to get off coal as soon as possible, mining companies predictably enough don't feel the same way but they need to hear what we are here to say on behalf of New Zealand." 

But not everyone agrees, during Kennedy's interview a man could be heard screaming at him to "get a job" and "f**k off". 

Another protester, Gemma Marnane, said while it might be hard for some Kiwis, coal isn't the country's future. 

"I know what it is like to grow up with coal as a big part of our culture. I come from a mining family and it's hard to let go of the past. But we can appreciate coal as a part of our history, not of our future."

"We are all scared of something, we all have things in common as a community: we are afraid for the future and uncertain what it looks like, but we can build a new, positive vision together. My future and the future of young people everywhere depend on it," Marnane said. 

Police told Newshub officers are at the site but so far there haven't been any issues. 

"Police are in attendance at the protest and are monitoring the protester's activities. At this stage there have been no issues or arrests."