Former All Black Jonah Lomu says a lack of recognition from the New Zealand Rugby Union was behind his failure to sign a new contract last month.

Lomu and the NZRU failed to agree terms in October for a new deal, and the hulking winger, who is sidelined by a kidney disease that requires regular dialysis treatment, told a NZ current affairs program that he had been hurt by the negotiations.

"You know, I just could not be bothered sitting there negotiating any contracts," he said. "I was the one that terminated my contract, it wasn't anyone else. I just said (to manager Phil Kingsley-Jones) 'nah, I just can't be bothered'."

"It wasn't a money thing, it was just that I couldn't be bothered negotiating if they don't know what my worth is and if they don't know what I could do for them, it's just a waste of time."

"I'm one of the most passionate guys about New Zealand and about the All Blacks - I'll basically do anything for the jersey."

As for the All Blacks' shock World Cup semi-final defeat to the Wallabies on Saturday, Lomu added that he had not been as surprised as a lot of other people.

"I've got to say I wasn't shell-shocked," he said. "What a lot of people don't realise is that Australia's got the best defensive record in this World Cup. I felt sorry for the guys because I'd been there before."