Prime Minister John Key is heading overseas immediately after the result of the national flag referendum is announced.
The Electoral Commission will reveal the preliminary result of the referendum on Thursday evening. After holding a press conference, Mr Key will fly out to Washington.
It is understood he will be taking some time off before attending a Nuclear Security Summit. He will not be in the country when a final referendum result is confirmed next week.
Mr Key told reporters at his weekly press conference this afternoon that a flag change remained his "strong preference" but he wanted New Zealanders to embrace whichever flag was chosen and to wear it more proudly.
Asked whether the alternative flag, a silver fern design, could become a secondary national flag, he said this was unlikely.