New Zealand's junior women's water polo team were welcomed to the world championships with an Australian flag in what turned out to be an embarrassing gaffe by tournament organisers in Greece.

The Kiwi team were greeted with the Australian Red Ensign flag on Sunday at the opening ceremony for the FINA Junior Worlds in Volos. The Australian Red Ensign is a red version of the Australian national flag and only used at sea.



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"It was pretty classic with the whole flag debate," said team member Ricci Ferigo. "We all just took it in our spirits and grabbed a couple of photos before getting out our phones and holding up the actual flag."

Last year Prime Minister John Key said there was continued confusion on the world stage when it came to the New Zealand flag.

"It's just sheer confusion with Australia," he said.

"Even at APEC they tried to take me to [Australian Prime Minister Tony] Abbott's seat."

Last week a 40-strong list of flag designs was released ahead of New Zealand's flag referendum in March 2016, however, critics said the selections lacked diversity, vision and imagination.

Illustrator Toby Morris said the range of options offered was disappointing and "surprisingly narrow".

"They say there are 40 designs but actually there are only four or five main ideas there that you see repeated in various colour combinations."