New Zealand's Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has called on neighbouring Australia to change its flag, saying it had pinched the Kiwi banner's design and was causing confusion.

'We designed it and they borrowed it and if we wanted to clear the matter up they should change their flag,' Peters told reporters.

'It must be patently obvious that all over the world people are confused.

The only major difference is that the Australian version (right) has six white stars, five representing the Southern Cross, while New Zealand (left) depicts the constellation with four red stars

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters (pictured) said: 'I've been in places like Turkey and elsewhere where they've confused our countries on the basis of those flags. It's not helpful'

'I've been in places like Turkey and elsewhere where they've confused our countries on the basis of those flags. It's not helpful.'

Both the New Zealand and Australian flags are dark blue with the Union flag emblem of founding nation the United Kingdom in the top-left corner.

The only major difference is that the Australian version has six white stars, five representing the Southern Cross, while New Zealand depicts the constellation with four red stars.

Peters, who is temporarily leading the country while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on maternity leave, feels strongly about the flag issue.

New Zealand held a referendum on changing its flag to a silver fern design in 2016, with the proposal defeated 43 percent to 57

The flag that made it to the referendum stage was chosen over four other flags (all pictured) in a poll

The 73-year-old also raised it earlier this week, complaining 'we got there first with this design'.

Opposition leader Simon Bridges ridiculed Peters' flag preoccupation, accusing him of populism and labelling him 'a poor man's Donald Trump'.

NATIONAL FLAGS AUSTRALIA Adopted the flag on April 14, 1954

Features the Union Jack and Southern Cross with white stars

Followed the original design chosen in 1901 after a competition NEW ZEALAND Adopted the flag on March 12, 1902

Features the Union Jack and four red stars with white borders

Designed by First Lieutenant of Royal Navy vessel Blanche, Albert Hastings Markham, after his submission in 1869 FLAG CONFUSION The two flags are often confused due to their similarities in design and geographical proximity Advertisement

Bridges said New Zealanders he had spoken to were concerned about topics such as the economy and healthcare.

'They never raised with me changing the Australian flag. That's weird by even his standards,' he told parliament.

The comment comes after Mr Peters, who is also the country's foreign minister, slammed Australia for deporting New Zealand nationals without trial.

More than one thousand New Zealanders have had their visas cancelled in Australia since stricter deportation laws were introduced four years ago.

New Zealand adopted its flag in 1902, while Australia's was not officially recognised until 1954.

However, the Australian version had been used informally since 1901 and both countries say similar designs were common throughout the late 1800s.

New Zealand held a referendum on changing its flag to a silver fern design in 2016, with the proposal defeated 43 percent to 57.