Wellington: New Zealand has formally recognised English as an official language after parliament passed legislation on July 30, placing the country’s most widely spoken language alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
The English Language Bill became law despite criticism from linguists, legal experts and some opposition lawmakers, who questioned the need to provide statutory protection to a language spoken by about 95 percent of New Zealand’s population.
The legislation was introduced as part of a coalition agreement between the centre-right National Party and New Zealand First. National formed the government after reaching agreements with New Zealand First and ACT.
Justice ministry officials had recommended against passing the legislation, saying there was no evidence that the use or status of English in New Zealand was under threat. Officials noted that official recognition of te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language was intended to protect linguistic minorities.
The National Party, New Zealand First and the opposition Labour Party supported the bill, while the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori opposed it.
Green MP Tamatha Paul strongly criticised the legislation during parliamentary debate, describing it as a ‘pathetic waste’ of parliament’s responsibility. The speech subsequently attracted millions of views online and fuelled wider debate about the purpose of the legislation.
New Zealand First MP Casey Costello, however, defended the measure, arguing that it formally aligns legislation with the longstanding role of English in the country and provides clarity about its status within New Zealand’s official language framework.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has previously argued that formal recognition was necessary, citing concerns that increased use of Māori terminology in public services could cause confusion.
Critics maintain that the legislation will have little practical effect. Linguist Sidney Wong said official language protections are generally intended for languages that face threats or require additional support, while English remains dominant throughout New Zealand.
Law professor Dean Knight also described the legislation as largely symbolic, saying it would not require government agencies to prioritise English in official communications. Following the change, New Zealand now formally has three official languages: English, te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
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