All articles tagged with #maori language
New Zealand’s parliament passed a bill designating English as the country’s third official language, joining Māori and sign language, a move supporters say formalizes a long-standing reality despite critics calling it unnecessary given English’s dominance.
Lawmakers in New Zealand approved a bill to make English an official language alongside Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, clarifying its use in legal, political and government settings without creating new rights. The move, backed by the governing Labour coalition and NZ First but criticized by opponents who call it wasteful, reflects English’s long-standing role in the country; government data show English is spoken by over 95% of the population, with Māori and sign language used by smaller shares.
New Zealand's plan to introduce bilingual road signs featuring both English and te reo Maori languages has sparked a racially charged debate ahead of the country's general election. The government aims to promote cultural understanding and social cohesion with the Maori community, but right-wing opposition parties argue that the signs will jeopardize road safety. Supporters believe the signs are crucial for preserving Maori cultural heritage and language revitalization efforts. The example of Wales, where bilingual signs have improved safety, is cited as a parallel. While concerns about design and placement of signs exist, experts argue that poor design, not multiple languages, can be dangerous.