Fiji to remove Union Jack from flag - and New Zealand set to vote on doing the same

FORMER Commonwealth nation Fiji will remove the Union Jack from its flag, it was announced today.

People holding Fiji flagsGETTY

Fiji will remove the Union Jack from its flag this year

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the British symbol was "out of date" and was "no longer relevant" to the country.

The one-time coup leader said Fiji needed a flag which reflected how they had become independent since 1970.

He said: "We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past.

"The new flag should reflect Fiji's position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state."

A person holding the Fiji flagGETTY

A national competition will take place to design the next Fiji flag

We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

The current flag is light blue with the Union Jack in the top left corner.

It also features a shield with the cross of St George and a British lion, along with sugar cane, bananas, a palm tree and a dove of peace.

Mr Bainimarama said these were "honoured symbols of our past, but not our future".

A competition will be held to design a new flag for the country and it will be hoisted on Fiji's 45th anniversary of independence on October 11.

Children holding a New Zealand flagGETTY

New Zealand will hold a referendum next year on whether to drop the Union Jack from its flag

Mr Bainimarama said: "We must all have an open mind about the final result, but it should be symbolic of the unity of the nation and instantly recognisable the world over as uniquely and proudly Fijian."

In 2012 Fiji's Prime Minister also scrapped the Queen's birthday as a public holiday and removed Her Majesty's head from the country's currency.

Next year New Zealand will hold a referendum on whether it will remove the Union Jack from its flag.

Conservative Prime Minister John Key favours a design featuring a silver fern similar to the one worn by the All Blacks rugby team.

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