Overview
- The House passed the English Language Bill in its third and final reading on Thursday, formally listing English alongside Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language as official languages.
- The legislation is two pages long and states English “has long been a de facto official language” but that its status was not previously set out in statute.
- The bill was a coalition pledge driven by New Zealand First and advanced in the name of Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who did not take part in the parliamentary debate.
- Supporters said the law gives clarity for public services and aligns the statute book with everyday practice, while critics described the move as unnecessary, symbolic, or politically driven and noted other English-speaking countries have not legislated English.
- The measure has reopened tensions over language policy because Te Reo Māori won legal protection after historical suppression, and the bill’s passage arrives as politicians prepare for a general election in November 2026.