AKIPRESS.COM - John Key, the prime minister of New Zealand, said on Monday he would press ahead with plans to hold a referendum to change the national flag following his election triumph, reports AFP.

The centre-right leader said he wanted the ballot next year on whether to ditch the current flag, which features the Union Jack of former colonial power Britain in one corner.

"I'd like to get on with it, to me I'd like to do it as a 2015 issue," Mr Key told commercial station Radio Live.

"I'm obviously a big supporter of the change, I think there are a lot of strong arguments in favour of the change."

Mr Key has previously said he would prefer a new flag featuring the national plant, a silver fern, on a black background.