The opposition's adamant the Government has its priorities out of step with the public with its proposal to change the country's flag.

But the Government's adamant it has its flag referenda process right.

MPs have voted in favour of the second reading of a Bill that sets up a two step referenda process on the issue.

Labour Leader Andrew Little's calling the referenda a waste of money and a waste of money.

He claims New Zealanders don't want "a government that's already spent $8 million on a referendum process without a referendum being held yet, with another $17 million left to go, when there are greater priorities at stake."

The Prime Minister has been accused by Green MP Russel Norman of driving the change for political purposes.

"On this referendum around the flag the Prime Minister is purposely manipulating the process to push it towards the outcome he wants. That is manipulative, that is about optics, that is about spin."

Furthermore, New Zealand First MP Denis O'Rourke has expressed his upset over the fact that if the flag is changed, the current one will only be preserved as a flag of historical significance.

"What a terrible way to treat our New Zealand flag. It will not really be preserved at all, it would be relegated to history."

But Deputy Prime Minister Bill English is standing by the two step process that will see new flag options canvassed first, before people decide if they want a change.

"It's pretty logical. People can make an informed decision about whether to change the flag if they can see what the alternative is."

Andrew Little said they want to amend the legislation so that the process would be scrapped if there's an under 50% turnout for the first referendum.

"If it's going to change, a lot of New Zealanders ought to support it. If we're going to have a turnout of less than 50%, that's not a mandate to change the flag."