Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Why fix what is not broken rings true with BNZ as it reverts to a logo similar to its old 1950s southern cross design.

In 2008 BNZ changed its logo to a simple "BNZ", dropping the southern cross and gold chevron.

But BNZ recently announced a further change in its logo -- bringing back the southern cross.

BNZ external relations manager Erica Lloyd said today it was a "branding evolution".

"Essentially we have simplified our design. [It's] not a radical change, it's more of a tweak."

She did not say how much it would cost BNZ to implement the change but said it had changed to a simplified colour palette which would make items such as stationery cheaper to produce.

In 2011 BNZ would turn 150 and Ms Lloyd said this was the perfect time to return the stars to its logo.

BNZ has undergone a handful of logo changes since its foundation in 1861.

The southern cross was added to the original logo's coat of arms in the early 1950s.

In the late 1970s the logo dropped the coat of arms but carried over the chevron and southern cross.