Overview
- Parliament passed the English Language Bill on Thursday, formally adding English as a third official language alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
- The law states explicitly that recognising English will not create new legal rights or change how government, courts or parliament use the language.
- The bill won broad support from New Zealand First, National, Labour and ACT and passed by a large majority with 101 votes for and 20 against.
- A Justice Committee received 1,601 written submissions and reported that almost two thirds opposed the bill, and legal and linguistic experts called the change unnecessary or symbolic.
- Māori language leaders say te reo Māori had to fight for recognition after generations of suppression and warn the new law could divert political will and resources from language revival efforts.