Winston Peters agrees with Labour's leader that God Defend New Zealand is a mournful dirge.

Mr Peters said the mark of a national anthem is how often it's sung.

He said when people are happy at a wedding or at a sporting event they sing their national anthem.

Mr Peters said he's heard the Scots singing Flower of Scotland, has heard the Irish and the French in full flight but he's never heard our anthem being sung when people are happy.

Labour leader Andrew Little yesterday described the national anthem as a "dirge" and said many New Zealanders preferred to sing along to the Australian anthem than our own.

Mr Little made the comment during debate in Parliament on the Flags Referendums Bill, a bill Labour is opposing despite Mr Little's own desire for a new flag and Labour's 2014 policy to start the process to secure that change.

Mr Little said while thousands of New Zealanders wanted a change of flag, they did not believe it was the right time.

"This is not a poor reflection on New Zealanders, many of whom would like something different. Many of them want a change to the national anthem too, because they are sick of singing a dirge every time you turn up to a festive occasion. Most of them sing along to the Australian national anthem before they sing along to our own."