Mr Nash was initially tipped as a potential candidate for Labour leader after the party's poor showing in this year's general election, but said he wasn't interested. Mr Hide suggested Mr Nash hadn't thrown his hat in the ring for the leadership "presumably because he has figured he wouldn't win".
In response to Mr Hide's piece, Mr Nash said he was "a little surprised".
"It was very kind of him."
He "developed a very healthy respect for Rodney", during the 2005 election.
"I treat politics like rugby. You go out there, you fight really hard to win, but afterwards you have a beer with them."
But he said a tilt at the leadership was unrealistic.
"I was approached to stand for the leadership, and I did think long and hard about it, but it was never a realistic option."
He would instead focus on networking in Parliament and fulfilling the promises he'd made to the Napier electorate.
The contenders for the Labour Party leadership - David Parker, Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta and Andrew Little - last week visited Pukemokimoki Marae, Napier, for a meeting with party members. It was one of 14 hustings meetings to be held throughout the country during the leadership contest, which will be decided on Tuesday, November 18.
Mr Nash said he had already cast his vote in the contest, but would not be drawn on who he was backing.
"I will work with whoever is leader and give them 100 per cent support."