Winston Peters is ruling out a run in next month's Tauranga by-election.

Nominations close at midday in the race to replace National MP Simon Bridges, with the final candidates confirmed at 4pm.

The New Zealand First Leader had been tipped to stand.

But he told Mike Hosking he nor his party will be standing, and thinks the whole by-election is a waste of taxpayer money.

"At a time when we've got so much wasteful spending, here we've got another example of a waste and no political party in Parliament think it's of any concern at all."

LISTEN ABOVE