Australia rejects New Zealand plan to remove Union Jack from its flag
Australian MP saying it is 'disrespectful' to discuss a change in the lead-up to the centenary of the Gallipoli landing
www.telegraph.co.ukNo major recent developments have emerged on changes to the flags of New Zealand or Australia. The most notable related story remains the 2018 comments by New Zealand's acting Prime Minister Winston Peters, who jokingly accused Australia of copying New Zealand's flag design and urged them to create their own. Both flags share a blue field, Union Jack, and Southern Cross stars (four red for NZ, six white for Australia plus a Commonwealth Star), stemming from their shared British colonial history.[1][2][4]
Historical Context
New Zealand held a failed 2016 referendum on replacing its 1902 flag, partly to differentiate from Australia's similar design, but voters kept the original by 57%. Australia has debated its flag too, often tied to republicanism, but no changes have occurred despite occasional pushes.[6][1]
Key Design Differences
| Feature | New Zealand Flag | Australian Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Stars | 4 red Southern Cross stars | 5 white Southern Cross + 1 large white Commonwealth Star [4] |
| Background | Blue with Union Jack | Blue with Union Jack |
| Adoption Year | 1902 | 1901 |
These similarities continue to spark lighthearted rivalry but no active "latest news" as of April 2026.[9]