New Zealand Parliament Grants English Official Language Status

The New Zealand parliament passed the English language bill on July 30, 2026, formally granting English official status alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand sign language. The legislation resulted from a coalition agreement between the National party and the New Zealand First party.

While the coalition government and the opposition Labour party voted in favor of the bill, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori opposed the measure. The Labour party supported the bill specifically to avoid what it termed a "needless culture war."

New Zealand First representatives, including Foreign Affairs Minister Papa Winnie and MP Casey Costello, defended the law as a practical step to align the statute book with longstanding practice and resolve confusion stemming from the use of Māori in public services.

Opponents, including Green MP Tamatha Paul, condemned the legislation as a "pathetic waste of the responsibility of this house." Legal experts and linguists also criticized the move as a "pointless exercise," arguing that the dominance of English in New Zealand renders legislative protection unnecessary.