A parliamentary select committee has recommended that the English Language Bill be passed without any changes, according to a report released on 28 June 2026.

The bill would make English an official language in New Zealand, alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Right now, only te reo Māori and sign language have official status. English is used everywhere in government and courts, but it has never been formally named an official language.

The committee received the bill in March 2026 and asked the public for their views, as shown on the Parliament website. It took about four months to complete its review and make a recommendation — which is normal for this kind of bill.

How this fits into New Zealand's language framework

New Zealand currently has two official languages: te reo Māori (since 1987) and New Zealand Sign Language (since 2006). English is used for government, courts, and everyday life, but it has never been declared an official language. This bill changes that.

The Government also made changes to English language requirements for people moving to New Zealand, which happened in 2024. These changes show the Government is focused on language policy, though the two things work differently — one controls who can move here, the other gives English formal status.

What happens next

When a select committee says a bill is ready with no changes needed, it is a strong signal. It means no fixes are required, and there is enough support from different political parties to move forward.

The bill will now go through the remaining stages of Parliament: second reading (where MPs debate it), committee of the whole House (detailed examination), and third reading (final vote). Since the committee found no problems, the second reading debate will likely be short. Whether Parliament rushes through these final stages is up to the Government.

Right now, making English an official language is mostly symbolic. It does not change how English already works in government or courts. What it does do is say that English, te reo Māori, and sign language are all equally official. This could matter for how government agencies use language in the future and for any new laws about language rights.

RNZ reported the committee's recommendation on 28 June 2026.