New Zealand has formally recognized English as one of its official languages after Parliament passed a new law despite strong criticism that this was unnecessary and politically motivated.
The English Language Bill elevates English to the same level of official status as Maori language and New Zealand Sign Language. However, the new legislation does not introduce any new rights or rules because English is already dominant in government courts and Parliament.
Official data shows that more than 95 percent of the population speaks English. The bill was introduced by New Zealand First, a party that is part of the government coalition. Supporters say that the law simply formalizes what has long been true.
Speaking in Parliament, Casey Costello of New Zealand First said that the legislation recognizes “what has long been assumed in New Zealand” and that this is a practical step to clarify clearly the status of English.
Legislation to protect English sparked strong opposition from linguists and legal experts as well as opposition politicians who argued that English was never in danger and did not need legal protection.
MP Tamatha Paul of the Green Party called the bill a “pathetically wasted effort” and accused the government of turning this into an unnecessary culture war. She also noted that English is not officially recognized as an official language in England itself.
Government statistics show that only about 4.3% of New Zealanders speak Maori and around 0.5% use New Zealand Sign Language. Both languages were granted official status to safeguard smaller communities and strengthen legal rights for them.
Critics said giving English the same level of protection undermined that goal. Despite backlash, the bill passed with support from both the governing coalition and opposition Labour Party.
Labour backed the legislation to avoid prolonging what they called an unnecessary political fight.
2026-08-04 01:43:00
