Bill to Recognize English as Official Language in New Zealand Advances

A bill proposing to recognize English as an official language of New Zealand has successfully passed its initial parliamentary stage. The bill aims to grant English, spoken by 95% of the country's population, the same official status as te reo Māori and New Zealand sign language, without affecting the status or use of existing official languages.

The bill is a component of the coalition agreement between the New Zealand First party and the National party. On March 3, the coalition, which also includes the Act party, voted in favor of the bill at its first reading. This decision advances the legislation to the select committee stage, where it will undergo public consultation and further parliamentary readings.

Proponents Champion Bill's Aims

New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters articulated that English had not previously been formally recognized as official and that the bill seeks to address this. He expressed that the use of Māori in public services was causing confusion.

The bill was a step towards ensuring "logic and common sense prevails" given the majority of New Zealanders use and understand English.

Peters, who is Māori, has previously voiced opposition to initiatives promoting the Māori language. He has also questioned the use of Māori names for government departments and the reference to New Zealand as Aotearoa.

The National Party affirmed its support for the legislation as part of its coalition agreement, despite noting it was not a priority. Act's Simon Court urged that the proposal should not escalate into a "culture war issue." Similarly, National's Rima Nakhle remarked that officially recognizing English was "not the end of the world."

Opposition and Expert Concerns

Ministry of Justice officials advised the government against passing the bill.

Ministry of Justice officials cited "no evidence to support concerns about the use or status of English as an official language."

They highlighted that Māori and New Zealand sign language were granted official status specifically to protect linguistic minorities. Furthermore, they indicated that recognizing English would not change its existing status as the primary language. Officials also observed that few English-speaking countries formally designate English as an official language, often doing so only when coupled with the protection of another language, as seen in Canada with French and English.

Opposition parties and language experts have voiced strong criticism of the proposal. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty labeled the bill as "scaremongering" and "cynical." Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick contended that English faces no threat and drew parallels to historical policies where Māori children were penalized for speaking their native language.

Sharon Harvey, an associate professor of educational linguistics at Auckland University of Technology, described the bill as "vexatious" and "unnecessary." Harvey posited that the bill's proponents might be appealing to a segment of society uneasy with the increased visibility of the Māori language, under the guise that it diminishes English's significance. She also pointed out the current government's observed leanings towards "English first, or English only" policies in various public spheres.