What is the third official language in New Zealand?

New Zealand has three official languages Sign Language, Māori, and English.

English is the most popular language spoken in New Zealand. However, people have the right to speak Māori and New Zealand Sign Language in any legal proceedings.

Although English is the most spoken it wasn't recognized as an official language until 2018. Māori however, has been recognized as an official language since 1987, and Sign Language since 2006.

Approximately 25,000 people can use Sign Language on a daily basis, and is the main language for the New Zealand Deaf Community, which was created by the deaf people, for the deaf people and has signs for both English and Māori words. The purpose of making Sign Language an official language was to ensure the deaf community had the same access to government information and services as everybody else.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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48 Comments

Denise Currie

Should be compulsory in all schools

Cari G.

I learned 'sign exact' when my Father became deaf. I learned alot about the deaf community and some of the difficulties they face on a daily basis.

Sandie de Rougemont

NZ always seem to have their act together 👍

Chris Brown

Denise Currie, ...and internationally in countries where Europeans have settled, especially in those we call developing nations like those in Africa and Asia.

Catherine Johnston-larsen

They are not all the same, it varies from country to country.

Sally Rule

I live in NZ and have learnt sign language

Alec McCracken

Not really a language as such, even though it's a way of communication for the hearing impaired.

Irene Townsend

Once children can learn another language at a young age, generally it makes it so much easier to learn other languages when older age

Kath Thomson

Bruce Means, you obviously have no idea of the history of colonial NZ. The colonials forced their culture on the Māori and banned Māori children speaking their own language at school thus resulting in a generation of Māori not being taught Māori by their parents. The standardisation of the language was done so that a common language could be taught and Māori be preserved. Many more Māori, and non-Māori speak the language now - the dialectical differences can be added once the standardised language is learnt. Māori are not trying to force their culture on us Pākehā, they are trying to regain their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi. I personally think that sign language and Māori should be taught in primary school. Learning another language is great for the brain and for getting to understand another culture.

Dean Sole

Bronni, there was a 2018 bill to make English an official language in NZ but it has not been passed. Only Maori and NZ Sign Language are official.

Le Roy

Irka Venus Pietlicki I, They have free videos on the net to learn it.

Le Roy

EL Sol Sale Para Todos, Claro que si. Yo tengo muy amigos que son sordos. Me gusta señales por los sordos. Dios te bendiga.

Le Roy

bleonard, Every country should push for sign language, but each country has their own language in sign. For instance ASL is different than Mexican Sign language, but that one ie easy to learn.

Le Roy

Denise Currie, I wish The U.S would do something like this althought there are a lot of interpreters translating in courts, etc. It is more prevalent today than it was years ago. I have some of the best friends as deaf people.

Le Roy

Cari G., My wife and I have taken classes for ASL and we both love Sign language. I wish I knew more, but I can sign some Christian songs in ASL(American Sign Language. What a lot of people do not know or understand is that ASL is not universal. For instance Mexico has their own Spanish sign language. We sign Christ from our left shoulder down to our right with the letter C whereas They sign Cristo with a C going from their head upwords(because He is the head.

bleonard

Sign language should be the Universal one. That should make every nation's people talk to each other more.

EL Sol Sale Para Todos

Muy interesante, habrá muchas personas sordas.

coralnavon

What an extremely positive system of support and equality.

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What is the third official language in New Zealand?

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