English has been formally recognized as an official language in New Zealand, a move that aligns with long-standing practice but has drawn criticism from some members of Parliament. The bill, passed on Thursday, designates English as an official language alongside Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, from New Zealand's conservative coalition government, stated that English has long been a de facto official language, widely used and accepted, but its status was not previously codified in legislation. The bill aims to rectify this by integrating the statute book with established practice.
Supporters argued the bill is a practical measure. Casey Costello of the Right-wing NZ First Party told the House of Representatives that the bill was important for the "hard-working Kiwi battlers" her party represents, calling it "not trivial, unnecessary, or a distraction" in a democracy. Simon Court of the ACT Party added that recognizing English as official is important for practical matters, such as hospital directions and air traffic control communication.
However, the legislation faced opposition. Greens MP Tamatha Paul criticized the bill, characterizing its supporters as "snowflakes" and questioning the necessity of formally recognizing a language already in widespread use. Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara also voiced criticism, questioning the benefit of the bill and the time spent debating it. She highlighted that Te Reo Māori holds protected status because it was systematically suppressed, contrasting it with the de facto status of English.
Some critics drew parallels to the United Kingdom, which has not legally declared English as its official language. Members of the ruling National Party offered brief remarks, with MP Vanessa Weenink noting that English's prominence in the house would not change, and the main outcome was spending hours discussing it.
New Zealand is set to hold a general election in November. Recent polling indicates a close contest between the Labour Party and the National Party.