New Zealand First is looking to nab another rural seat off the National Party at the next election.

That's the message being given by leader Winston Peters ahead of the party's convention and AGM in Dunedin this weekend.

He sees an opportunity to repeat their Northland by-election victory in other seats saying the provinces have been badly neglected and no amount of hype and spin will convince people otherwise.

"And you can see the signs in places like Whanganui. Out there in the Gisborne and East Coast and parts of the South Island they are being seriously neglected."

Mr Peters is downplaying speculation that the party might bring in former Labour MP Shane Jones as a candidate, saying that's a case of the media interviewing themselves - but he's not explicitly denying it.

Economic and social change are also set to the the focus for the party for the next election campaign.

Mr Peters said it's long since time that we changed the social and economic direction of the country.

"And that's what we've got to do over the next 12 moths in terms of our campaigning. Getting ourselves ready and getting the boat out.

"We know that New Zealand First has the chance of a lifetime this election and we're not going to blow it."

But does that mean he sees his party being instrumental in the formation of the next Government?

Mr Peters is avoiding the question saying he leaves those perambulations to media.