SYDNEY — The acting prime minister of New Zealand accused Australia this week of copying his country’s 116-year-old flag and demanded that Australians come up with a new design.

“We had a flag that we’ve had for a long time, copied by Australia,’’ Winston Peters, who is filling in for Prime Minister Jacinda Arden while she takes maternity leave, told TVNZ. “And they should actually change their flag and honor the fact that we got there first.’’

Relations between the two neighbors have been strained recently over an Australian policy to deport New Zealanders convicted of crimes back to their home country.

New Zealand adopted its flag — featuring a blue background, Union Jack, and stars representing the Southern Cross constellation — in 1902. Australia did not adopt its flag until 1954, although a version was flown as early as 1901.

Though similar, the countries’ flags are not identical.

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