A former National MP is confident Simon Bridges will survive any fallout from secretly recorded conversations with Jami-Lee Ross.

Ross claims the leader filed a false electoral return, concerning a $100,000 donation.

The rogue former MP released the tape to try to prove his claim, which contained comments from Bridges that were less than complimentary towards other party members.

The tape reveals Bridges saying he just wants MPs Chris Finlayson and David Carter to go and described Maureen Pugh as "f***ing useless". 

However, former Napier MP Chris Tremain told Mike Hosking the whole ordeal is more incriminating for Ross than it is Bridges.

"This one is pretty raw, there's no doubt about it, I guess it will have some fallout but most Kiwis understand that that's the kind of discussions that take place."

"There was no evidence in there [the tape] that they were trying to hide the donation, they said the Chinese didn't want anything from it, I just don't see anything there that is incriminating of Simon."

He said we all talk differently when with our mates and Bridges once saw Ross as a friend.

"They're discussing new MPs coming in, how they are going to position the party, those conversations take place regularly in all political parties."

Jami-Lee Ros has "taken his own agenda and blasted it across the country", Tremain said.

He said ultimately he thinks Bridges will survive as leader 'for now'.

Yesterday Simon Bridges apologised to Maureen Pugh, who responded saying she was 'disappointed' but had forgiven him.

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRIS TREMAIN SPEAKS WITH