NZ First leader Winston Peters says it doesn't matter if journalists are left- or right-leaning, "as long as they are balanced".

His comments were in response to Mike Hosking's opinion piece published in the NZ Herald on Thursday.

Defending himself against accusations of bias previously aired by Peters, the controversial broadcaster said he's "not a journalist" and "not remotely political".

BENN BATHGATE/FAIRFAX NZ NZ First leader Winston Peters has hit out at presenter Mike Hosking for being out of touch with reality.

Peters described the piece as "long-winded" and "pathetic".

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"Maybe he thinks he can win from this far back in the court," he said. "Whereas I've forgotten about it. I just wanted him to know from where I'm concerned he's not going to get away with a free hit."

In his piece, Hosking distanced himself from journalists by saying he wasn't one, then said many journalists were biased.

"They accuse me of bias by being biased themselves and not even seeing it, and two, they hate people like me having ideas and thoughts and putting them out there because they worry people might get influenced and they're not up for it because too many journalists look down their noses at the rest of us as being Luddites."

Peters said that was "not true".

"[Most journalists] are professional enough to realise they can't do their job unless they do it with balance. It doesn't matter if you're left-leaning or right-leaning what matters is that you're professional and balanced. Why should other journalists have to answer the calls of balance and he not?"

The debate was sparked when Peters wrote a piece for the NZ Herald saying Hosking's "jowls are up the Prime Minister's cheeks" and that the "quality of public debate suffers" because Hosking plays the role of "National Party stooge".

Despite saying he had "no desire to relitigate any of it", Hosking's reply on Thursday was more than 1000 words.

A Stuff poll on August 17 showed 72 per cent of respondents - 26,399 people - agreed Hosking was "clearly" politically biased.

The Prime Minister has rubbished those claims, saying "it doesn't matter what the personal views are of the journalist - they'll ask the hard questions".

Hosking delivers his opinions twice daily via his Newstalk ZB morning show - which also appear on the NZ Herald website - and on TVNZ's Seven Sharp.

His comments are not confined to politics, although he often tackles political and economic stories, giving his view on issues and events.