Justice Minister Annette King says planning is underway for a postal referendum on the child discipline law.
Opponents of the controversial law have gathered enough signatures to force a referendum.
An audit by the Clerk of the House deemed 310,000 signatures as valid, 25,000 more than is required to initiate a referendum.
Annette King says the vote will be held by postal ballot in the middle of next year.
The petition's organiser, the Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock, says the referendum should be held at this year's election.
"If they can organise an election in six weeks then they can certainly organise a referendum as well," he says.
