Voting papers for the referendum will begin being sent out from Thursday, March 3.
Meanwhile yesterday the entire NZ First caucus has staged a protest against John Key's flag change referendum.
All 12 MPs snuck onto a carpark opposite the Beehive, found a disused flagpole, and raised the current New Zealand flag.
NZ First leader Winston Peters joined Paul Henry to discuss the flag change.
He says is shows how out of touch politicians are with the population.
He calls the referendum a diversion which is costly and denies the country’s history.
“The other thing is, the alternative’s a bit boring. It reminds me of a ponytail in the wind.”
Mr Peters also weighed in on National’s idea to create an intelligence centre to combat gangs.
He said the idea showed the “sickly, white liberal” thinking of some politicians.
“The Maori gangs are so destructive to Maoridom and its reputation. They have to be outlawed.”
