New Zealand's acting prime minister has accused Australia of 'copying' their national flag.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters claims Australia should change the flag they've been using for more than six decades.

Mr Peters, who is filling in for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern while she is on maternity leave, caused a stir on morning television when questioned about the consistency of his views.

New Zealand's current flag was adopted on March 24, 1902 followed by Australia's adoption on April 14, 1954 - more than 50 years after their neighbour.

New Zealand's acting prime minister Winston Peters (pictured) has slammed Australia for 'copying' their national flag almost seven decades after first adopting it

Mr Peters claimed the New Zealand flag (right) was 'copied by Australia' (left) and that they should 'change their flag' because they had it 'first'

'We had a flag that we've had for a long time, copied by Australia, and they should actually change their flag and honour the fact that we got there first with this design, being decided by a Prime Minister and his legacy,' Mr Peters told TVNZ.

The call to change the flag has been widely debated for years as the two are often confused due to their similarity and geographical proximity.

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

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

'When you're in a foreign country you're expected to obey their laws,' he said.

'But someone should be tried before they're evicted from a country.'

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

Some have spent the majority of their lives in Australia with little connection to their country of birth.

In the same period, the Tasman neighbour has sent back only nine Australian citizens.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said New Zealand needed to keep in mind the country was a buffer between themselves and boats.

'(New Zealand) don't contribute really anything to the defence effort,' Mr Dutton said last week.

'There's a lot that we do for New Zealand.'