New Zealand passes law granting English official status, sparking sharp criticism

On 30 July, New Zealand's parliament approved a statute that recognises English as an official language alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand sign language. The bill was a concession in the coalition pact between the centre-right National party and the populist New Zealand First, whose leader Winston Peters has historically resisted Māori-focused initiatives. Both the governing coalition and the opposition Labour party voted in favour, while the Greens and Te Pāti Māori voted against it.

Ministry of Justice officials had advised against the measure, noting no evidence of threat to English. Experts such as linguist Sidney Wong and law professor Dean Knight described the law as symbolic and of little practical effect, arguing resources would be better spent on research rather than a 70-word amendment.