New Zealand legislation making English an official language ridiculed as ‘pathetic’
- Legislation recognising English as an official language of New Zealand has been passed by parliament, prompting derision from linguists and legal experts and a now-viral broadside from a Māori MP who called it “pathetic”.
- The English language bill became law on 30 July giving English, which is spoken by 95% of the country, the same official status as te reo Māori (Māori language) and New Zealand sign language.
- The bill formed part of a coalition deal between the centre-right National party and the minor populist New Zealand First party, whose leader Winston Peters, has long opposed affirmative i
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- Legislation recognising English as an official language of New Zealand has been passed by parliament, prompting derision from linguists and legal experts and a now-viral broadside from a Māori MP who called it “pathetic”.
- The English language bill became law on 30 July giving English, which is spoken by 95% of the country, the same official status as te reo Māori (Māori language) and New Zealand sign language.
- The bill formed part of a coalition deal between the centre-right National party and the minor populist New Zealand First party, whose leader Winston Peters, has long opposed affirmative i
Sources: Guardian