Clayton Mitchell
New Zealand First has submitted a Member’s Bill for English to be recognised as an official language of New Zealand.
Te Reo Maori was recognised in 1987 and New Zealand Sign Language in 2006, yet there is no legislation that recognises English.
Legal Status
The Bill is called the ‘English an Official Language Bill’ and will give English the same legal status as Te Reo Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.
It is common sense to officially recognise the language that the vast majority of New Zealanders use on a day to day basis.
English is the primary language that New Zealanders use, whether it is in business, at home, on the sports field or in the media.
A petition was presented to Parliament last year with 6258 signatures asking for English to be recognised.
I have travelled around the country and everyone I’ve spoken to think it’s absurd that this is not already the case.
Clayton Mitchell is Member of Parliament on New Zealand First List.
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