Retiring National MP Steven Joyce claims rival MPs have been 'climbing over him' to get new roles.
Mr Joyce is bowing out of power after a decade in power - and just a week since he failed to win the National Party leadership.
Appearing on The AM Show on Wednesday, Mr Joyce wouldn't comment on how many votes he won in the leadership race.
"It's more than most people are spinning," he says.
"I've never spun against my colleagues."
He denies the reason he lost was because he was out of touch with the caucus, which went with Simon Bridges. Mr Bridges subsequently stripped Mr Joyce of his coveted finance portfolio.
"That's spinning from a couple of people that actually want to climb over me and get a new role," he says.
"A few people have had a go, but fundamentally that's their issue not mine."
And Mr Joyce continues to defend his claims of an $11.7 billion hole in Labour's fiscal plans, which drew fierce criticism during the 2017 election campaign.
He says he expects this hole will appear over the next four years.
"It's there. You can just see it every day in Grant Robertson's panic about where he's going to find the money to do all the things that his mates have promised," he argues.
"This guy has got a real problem. He's spent whatever money he had on first-year tertiary students. He's got Winston going out demanding more aid money.
"Let's face it - Winston appointed the Prime Minister so Winston gets what Winston wants."
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