New Zealand Ridiculed for 'Declaring the Obvious' with English Language Act

New Zealand's Parliament has passed an "English Language Act," officially designating English as one of the country's three official languages, alongside Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. The move has been widely mocked by the public and opposition lawmakers, who view it as a redundant and unnecessary piece of legislation.

The primary criticism stems from the fact that English is already spoken by over 95% of New Zealand's nearly 4.8 million inhabitants. The act does not introduce any new rules or regulations regarding the use of English in official capacities or documentation, leading many to question its purpose. "It's simply stupid" to enact a law that formalizes something already universally practiced, according to opposition MP Tamati Coffey.

Tamati Coffey, from the Green Party, labeled the law a "waste of time" during its final reading. She argued that even England does not have a law declaring English its official language. Coffey also suggested the ruling coalition, which includes the nationalist "New Zealand First" party, might be enacting this law due to a perceived sensitivity towards the Māori language. She highlighted the historical suppression of Māori, stating, "We had to march to Parliament with all our might demanding that the first indigenous language of this country be recognized, not that those who speak it are silenced with beatings."

Despite some internal grumbling, the opposition Labour Party voted in favor of the bill. However, MP Camilla Belich questioned the ruling coalition's motives, asking if they intended to "legislate the changing of seasons next." The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel received over 1,600 submissions from the public and organizations before the bill's passage, with two-thirds opposing it. Concerns raised included the law being a "needless waste of resources," a "needless division in society," and a potential undermining of the other official languages.