New Zealand passes English Language Bill, adding English as official language

New Zealand’s Parliament approved the English Language Bill, formally recognising English as an official language alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. The legislation passed its third reading after support from the nationalist New Zealand First party, which campaigned for the change.

The bill does not introduce new legal requirements; English already functions as the de‑facto language in courts, parliament and government documents, with about 95% of the population speaking it. Critics, including Green Party MP Tamatha Paul, denounced the measure as unnecessary and a distraction from cost‑of‑living issues, describing English as a “bastardisation of Greek.” Paul highlighted Wales as a model for protecting indigenous languages and urged greater focus on preserving te reo Māori, which has protected status after historic suppression.