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Green MP calls English official bill ‘bastard’, NZ First backs

7/30/2026

26 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Green MP Tamatha Paul called the English-official-language bill wasteful and called English a “bastard language.”
Paul also called NZ First MPs “snowflakes” who shiver at te reo Maori.
NZ First MP Casey Costello said the bill adds legal clarity about official status and will not create regulatory regimes.
Costello noted that te reo Maori already has status and that recognizing English will not affect that status or sign language.

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Story summary

Green MP Tamatha Paul called the English-official-language bill wasteful and called English a “bastard language.”
Paul also called NZ First MPs “snowflakes” who shiver at te reo Maori.
NZ First MP Casey Costello said the bill adds legal clarity about official status and will not create regulatory regimes.
Costello noted that te reo Maori already has status and that recognizing English will not affect that status or sign language.