The coalition deal between NZ First and National refers to giving English official status. But what would that involve?

What, then, would the proposal change?

“Nothing,” says Andrew Geddis, a professor of law at the University of Otago.

Legislation is intended to solve problems, he says. “What is the social problem here that requires a solution? English is already an official language. It can be used in all public settings.”

Geddis refers to the policy as “virtue signalling”: “There seem to be some people out there who fear English is under threat and is somehow going to be overtaken in New Zealand. This [policy] seems to be a way to try to respond to that fear.”

  • @Rangelus
    6•7 months ago

    100% virtue signaling. English is the Lingua franca, so it’s not going anywhere. It isn’t going to be replaced with Te Reo, Chinese, Dutch, Klingon or anything else. People who oppose the more prominent use of another of Aotearoa’s official languages are fucking sad.