New Zealand announced Tuesday the final designs for a new national flag that voters will rank in a referendum later this year.

The four flags were whittled down from 10,000 design entries, according to the government website Govt.nz. Backers of the change want to distinguish New Zealand's flag from that of neighboring Australia.

Like the Australian flag, New Zealand’s current flag includes the Union Jack — the flag of the United Kingdom — and the stars of the Southern Cross constellation. The primary difference is that the Kiwi flag has red stars instead of white.

Voters will rank the designs in a referendum to be held between Nov. 20 and Dec. 11 this year, before they choose whether the favorite will replace New Zealand's current flag in another referendum in March.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key told reporters a new flag would have far-reaching benefits for the country.

"The whole process is really about engagement — and people having a chance to visualize it and see whether any one of these speaks to them more about the future of the country," Key said.

The four designs included three that show variations on the fern design: one in black and white, and two paired with the Southern Cross constellation. The fourth is a design of a "koru" — the Maori word for loop that describes a silver fern unfurling.

Key said he favored the three centered around the silver fern.

"I kind of like the fact they have the fern, which I think the history of the fern is as we know well over a hundred and something years, the world knows that symbol," he said.

But Kyle Lockwood, who designed two of the four finalists, said it was now up to the people to vote.

"I think the design does resonate with New Zealanders, and now we've got this really good opportunity now that the four designs are out there for people to get out and vote for their favorite," he said.

The 12-person consideration panel selected the four alternative flag designs from the longlist of 40 it announced in August. It did not consult with the public on either decision.

Al Jazeera and Reuters