Trade Minister Damien O'Connor has posted a photo of himself posing next to what appears to be an Australian flag during talks with his French counterpart Franck Riester.
O'Connor left for Europe and the United States last week to advance New Zealand's trade and economic interests and represent New Zealand at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Italy.
It followed a recent engagement between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to progress a free trade agreement with the European Union.
During his visit to Europe, O'Connor met with his French counterpart in Paris to talk trade, sustainability and progressing the EU-NZ free trade agreement.
O'Connor posted a photo on Twitter of himself standing next to Riester, flanked by the French flag, the EU flag and... what looks to be an Australian flag, evident by the white stars, in contrast to the New Zealand flag which has red stars.
"Here we go again," one person wrote in the comment section on Twitter. "Canberra/Wellington we have an identity problem."
"So why are you so happily standing in front of an Australian flag?" another wrote.
O'Connor brushed it off.
"These things happen from time to time," he told Newshub.
"The important thing is that Minister Riester and I had a great meeting today here in Paris, which reaffirmed the excellent relationship New Zealand and France have."
It's not the first time New Zealand politicians have experienced this problem - just ask former Prime Minister Sir John Key. During his campaign to change the flag in 2015, Key said it happened to him.
"You might know the New Zealand flag and it's great that most New Zealanders do, but around the world people get terribly confused," he said in a Facebook video at the time.
"You can see pictures of me in the newspaper where they are talking about me, and actually behind me and over my shoulder they're not even trying to take the mickey but they've got me in front of an Australian flag."
