Conservative party New Zealand First pushes to make English an official language
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says his legislation acknowledges the language spoken by the "mass majority". (AP: Mark Tantrum/File)
You may think English is the "official language" of Australia, New Zealand or in fact, the UK.
But while English dominates culture, commerce and politics, it is the de facto language, not the "de juer" language.
This distinction is partly legislative and partly semantic.
English has long been Australia's "national language", playing an instrumental role in both public life and immigration policy.
But the lack of official, legislative recognition has sparked heated debate across the Tasman, with right-wing populist party New Zealand First wanting laws to give English its rightful place.
"English has long been the predominant language of government, education, people with some brains, commerce and daily life in New Zealand," party leader Winston Peters said.
"It is spoken by around 95 per cent of the population; it has never been recognised in statute as an official language."
How language laws took centre stage
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and ACT Leader David Seymour, signing the coalition agreement at the announcement of the new government in 2023. (AAP: Mark Coote)
Charles Sturt University political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan said the English Language Bill was part of an "aggressive agenda of diminished Māori presence in public life".
"They've always prosecuted a very assimilationist agenda," he said.
"At the moment, they're advocating to abolish the Māori seats in parliament, which have been around since the mid-to-late 19th century."
New Zealand First is one of three conservative parties ruling the country in coalition, holding just eight of the 123 seats in the lower house.
They govern alongside the centre-right National Party, which holds 49 seats, and the Libertarian ACT Party, which holds 11 seats.
The English Language Bill was part of their coalition agreement; however, the National Party has been reluctant to champion it.
"It wouldn't be the top priority for us, absolutely not," Justice Minister and National MP Paul Goldsmith told RNZ.
"But it's something in the coalition and it's getting done."
Mr Goldsmith directed all questions about the bill to Mr Peters, who did not respond to the ABC.
Is this bill needed?
In December 2023, protesters rallied against the government's plan to wind back policies designed to improve outcomes for Māori and Pasifika New Zealanders. (Reuters: Lucy Cramer)
New Zealand already recognises two languages; Te Reo Māori became official in 1987, followed by New Zealand Sign Language in 2006.
These designations were followed by a strong promotional policy by the government, which in turn led to a steady increase in the number of Te Reo speakers to around 4 per cent of the population.
But Mr Peters said making English official would acknowledge the "linguistic reality of our nation" and "affirm the value of English as a shared means of communication used by the mass majority".
He also said there were "alarming examples" of first responders being unable to get to places because Te reo had been prioritised in public signage.
Sharon Harvey, associate professor of linguistics at Auckland University of Technology, doubted whether there was any substance to these concerns.
"It's ludicrous to say that first responders, for example, didn't know where the hospital was because it was called Te Whatu Ora instead of Auckland Hospital," she said.
"There's bilingual road signs all over the world … and there's no evidence to suggest that there's more car accidents."
Why some languages get official status
Aukland University's Sharon Harvey sees little need for the English Language Bill. (Supplied)
New Zealand is not the only English-dominated country to not enshrine language in law; the US made it official in 2025 following an executive order from President Donald Trump.
At the same time, other countries — including many former British colonies — have made English official, including India, Pakistan and Singapore.
Professor Harvey said governments typically passed these types of laws to promote or protect languages.
"In the case of Te Reo Māori, it's born of 130 years or more of suppression," she said.
"Colonisation was extremely violent in New Zealand and the suppression of Te Reo Māori means that the language is extremely endangered still."
Professor Harvey said even recent laws to make English official in Canada and Ireland were "more to promote French as equal to English in Canada, and Irish as equal to English".
English under threat?
A sheet of The Treaty of Waitangi, signed between the British Crown and Māori chiefs in 1840, is considered to be New Zealand's foundational document. (Picture: Archives New Zealand)
Mr Peters said his bill would "complement" and not "diminish the status" of New Zealand's other official languages.
Greens Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick dismissed that argument.
"Te Reo Māori was fought for, NZSL [New Zealand sign language] was fought for," she said.
"English, however, was literally beaten into people.
"It is not under threat, but in order to try and cling to power, this government has decided it needs to bank on fear. It needs to invent an oppression that does not exist."
Professor O'Sullivan said the English Language Bill demonstrated that New Zealand First was "trying to appeal to a racist fringe".
"It was a kind of virtue signalling, grandstanding, putting Māori down by supposedly putting English up," he said.
"From any objective perspective, it was simply a waste of time that will have no practical impact on anything."
Will the government last the election?
The Executive Wing of New Zealand Parliament Buildings, known as the Beehive. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The English Language Bill was introduced at the tail end of the coalition's first term in power, with an election due in November.
December polling from Roy Morgan showed support for the coalition was at around 50 per cent compared to Labour's 32 per cent, with the coalition projected to win 62 seats.
But Professor O'Sullivan said each party would likely pursue their own campaign agenda in the lead-up to the election as they all appeal to different constituencies.
"Although they are all parties to the right-of-centre, they are to the right-of-centre in different ways," he said.
"It's by no means, in effect, a single party with three factions. They're quite distinct, and the National Party, as the bigger party, would much rather be in government without New Zealand First or ACT."
Charles Sturt University political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan says New Zealand First may have the balance of power at the next election. (Supplied: Charles Sturt University)
Cost-of-living, high unemployment and inflation are likely to be key election issues.
Professor O'Sullivan said while the government "hasn't done particularly well" on those fronts, opposition parties "have really got quite a bit of work to do".
"What we're seeing in the polls at the moment is a very close race, but also a possibility that New Zealand First will hold the balance of power," he said.
"It has governed in coalition with Labour before, and one certainly couldn't rule out that happening again."