Winston Peters has described Simon Bridges as not a bad bloke, but not a "leader's backside".

The NZ First leader has weighed in on the continued discussion around the National Party's leadership, amid rumours that Bridges' tenure is unsafe. 

Peters told Jamie Mackay that National's problem is they don't have any alternatives, and that includes Judith Collins. 

"If she was any good, she wouldn't have failed twice already," referring to her leadership campaigns after both John Key and Bill English stepped aside.

Peters says that they won't get rid of Bridges until someone good comes along or they get desperate.

"Either way, it doesn't harbour well for them."

The Deputy PM has also questioned what National's Deputy Leader Paula Bennett actually does, rejecting the suggestion she is simply being loyal. 

"It's like the All Blacks. The vice captain is going to try as many scores as the Captain can."

Peters also took potshots at the media over their reporting of China's Belt and Road Initiative. 

He says that China is still working on the initiative and the government is trying to work out what it means, despite what "far too many" "incompetent, lazy" journalists in New Zealand. 

"What you have in New Zealand is a number of your lazy media mates have been making all sorts of comments about Belt and Road since the National Party signed up to a memorandum of understanding two or three years ago."