Story perspectives

NZ Parliament Adds English as Third Official Language

8/4/2026

Center

Parliament Approves English

New Zealand’s parliament passed legislation on Thursday, 3 August 2026, making English a third official language of the country.
The governing coalition and Labour backed the bill, while the Greens and Te Pati Maori voted against it.
Government data show 95 % of New Zealand speak English, 4.3 % speak Maori and 0.5 % use sign language.
NZ First MP Casey Costello said the law recognises English, while leader Winston Peters linked Maori name changes to confusion.

Left

Parliament Passes English

New Zealand’s parliament passed the English Language Bill on 3 August 2026, adding English as a third official language alongside Maori and sign language.
Opponents argue the bill wastes resources and diverts attention from protecting Maori and sign-language rights.
The Justice Committee received 1,601 written submissions, with nearly two-thirds opposing the measure.
Green MP Tamatha Paul called the measure a ‘pathetic waste of time’ in a viral speech.

Blindspot

The Justice Committee recorded 1,601 written submissions on the English Language Bill, with nearly two-thirds opposing it, and Justice Ministry officials advised against passage, stating there was no evidence English required official protection.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

On September 9 1969 Pierre Trudeau’s government passed the Official Languages Act, granting English and French equal status and leading to a 1974 Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality. The act lifted French-language representation in the federal public service from 9% to 14% by 1978. New Zealand’s 2026 English Language Bill, which places English alongside Maori and sign language, mirrors Canada’s bilingual model and reignites resource-allocation debates.

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Parliament Approves English

New Zealand’s parliament passed legislation on Thursday, 3 August 2026, making English a third official language of the country.
The governing coalition and Labour backed the bill, while the Greens and Te Pati Maori voted against it.
Government data show 95 % of New Zealand speak English, 4.3 % speak Maori and 0.5 % use sign language.
NZ First MP Casey Costello said the law recognises English, while leader Winston Peters linked Maori name changes to confusion.

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