Winston Peters says Colmar Brunton's polling is rubbish.

The One News poll out last night had New Zealand First on three percent, which would see the party well short of returning to Parliament.

When asked on The Country whether it's normal for New Zealand First to go into "hibernation" between elections, Peters told Jamie Mackay the polling's simply off.

"When you look at some of those questions there, it is deliberately designed to ensure that we don't as a party perform well. For example, on the leadership question, they don't even put the leader of NZ First down as an option."

Peters also doubled down on his criticism of departing National Party leader Bill English.

After English announced the end of his political career last week, Peters was the only politician not to offer positive words about the former Finance Minister.

Peters denies he was mean-spirited, saying he was not a hypocrite like a lot of people by ignoring his

"That doesn't mean I don't admire the guy, but I don't admire his economic philosophy and what has happened to my country as a consequence."

LISTEN TO WINSTON PETERS TALK WITH JAMIE MACKAY ABOVE