A Controversial Move: New Zealand Parliament Votes to Make English an Official Language, Sparking Outcry!
New Zealand's parliament has taken a significant step by voting to grant English official language status, a decision that has been met with sharp criticism from opposition parties and linguistic experts. They argue the bill is not only unnecessary but also a cynical maneuver.
The proposed legislation aims to elevate English, the language spoken by a staggering 95% of the population, to the same official standing as te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Proponents of the bill assure that this move will not diminish the status or usage of the existing official languages. This initiative is a key component of the coalition agreement between the populist New Zealand First party and the center-right National party, joined by the minor Act party.
On March 3rd, the coalition government successfully passed the bill's first reading, paving the way for public consultation and further parliamentary debates. While the exact timeline remains unclear, the bill enjoys substantial backing within the government and is widely expected to become law.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First and the country's foreign affairs minister, highlighted that English has historically lacked official recognition, calling the bill a necessary step to “correct that anomaly.” He further suggested that the current use of Māori in public services has led to confusion. Peters stated, "This bill won’t solve the push of this virtue signalling narrative completely. But it is the first step towards ensuring logic and common sense prevails when the vast majority of New Zealanders communicate in English, and understand English, in a country that should use English as its primary and official language.”
Interestingly, Peters, who is of Māori descent, has a history of opposing initiatives aimed at advancing the Māori language and has voiced concerns about the use of Māori names for government departments. A notable instance occurred in 2025 when he questioned the use of the Māori name 'Aotearoa' for New Zealand in parliamentary proceedings, despite its widespread adoption, even on currency and passports.
While the National Party has described the legislation as not being a top priority, they are supporting it as part of their coalition commitments. MPs from both the National and Act parties have spoken in favor, with Act's Simon Court suggesting it doesn't need to be a "culture war issue," and National's Rima Nakhle remarking that making English official is "not the end of the world."
And this is the part most people miss...
Outside the ruling coalition, the bill has faced significant opposition. Ministry of Justice officials advised against its passage, stating there was “no evidence to support concerns about the use or status of English as an official language.” They explained that Māori and New Zealand Sign Language were granted official status to safeguard linguistic minorities, and extending this to English would “not change its status as the default language.” Furthermore, they noted that few English-speaking nations have made English an official language, and when they have, it's often in conjunction with protecting another language, such as in Canada where both French and English hold official status.
Opposition parties and language experts have strongly condemned the bill. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty labeled it as “scaremongering, it is cynical, and frankly we can do without it in this country.” Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick pointed out that English is “not under threat” and controversially stated, "In plain English, for all members of this government, this bill is bullshit, and you know it." She referenced historical injustices, like the Native Schools Act of 1867, where children were punished for speaking Māori, highlighting that English has historically been imposed rather than needing protection.
Sharon Harvey, an associate professor specializing in educational linguistics, described the bill as “vexatious” and “unnecessary.” She believes proponents are appealing to a segment of society uneasy with the increasing visibility of the Māori language and subscribing to the unfounded notion that it diminishes English. Harvey expressed concern that this legislation might embolden the government to further reduce the prominence of other languages in New Zealand, citing recent policies that have decreased the visibility of Māori in public services and removed Māori words from some schoolbooks.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe making English an official language is a sensible step to acknowledge its prevalence, or is it a politically motivated move that undermines the recognition of other important languages in New Zealand? Share your agreement or disagreement in the comments below!
