UPDATED 11.44am It's been confirmed the father of a 14-year-old earthquake victim was the man who threw muck over Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee following yesterday's earthquake memorial.

John Howland was charged with assault following the incident and has appeared in court this morning.

His son Jayden Andrews-Howland was killed by falling masonry on a bus on Colombo Street during the quake.

Mr Howland said the muck was a mixture of flour, eggs, vinegar and chocolate.

He said it came out of a lot of frustration.

"Just because he's heartless and basically they don't give a stuff about people, us being the victims' families and that, you know?"

Howland said Brownlee didn't seem too disturbed by the move.

"Yeah with a grain of salt really, which we knew he would anyway."