New Zealand to change its flag to avoid confusion with Australia

New Zealand is set to change its national flag because of its similarity to the Australian flag. The flags of both the countries are very similar to each other. While New Zealand has a Union Jack on the top left of their flag against a deep blue background with red stars, Australia has exactly the same flag but with white stars. 

Due to this constant confusion, a campaign was led by the country to change their flag. On Monday, a long list of potential flags were released. Most of them represent the silver fern against a black background, which is worn by the country's rugby team, the All Blacks, and is also important with part of the Maori legend.

"A potential new flag should unmistakably be from New Zealand and celebrate us as a progressive, inclusive nation that is connected to its environment, and has a sense of its past and a vision for its future," the Flag Consideration Panel wrote in an open letter while releasing the long list.

The country's Prime Minister John Key had favoured a design which was a white fern against a black background but was quick to back off from it after comments were made saying that the design resembled the flag of the Islamic State militant group.