Māori MP Tamatha Paul Defends Te Reo Māori Against English Official Language Bill

In New Zealand, a bill proposing to make English an official language has sparked backlash from Indigenous activists and politicians. Māori MP Tamatha Paul delivered a passionate speech in parliament, arguing that English does not need official status and that the move is a response to the growing visibility of te reo Māori. She highlighted that English is not an official language in England or Australia, and called it a 'bastard language' drawing from Greek, Old Norse, and Latin. Paul also cited the Welsh language as an example of successful Indigenous language protection. The bill has been criticized by experts like Sharon Harvey, an associate professor at Auckland University of Technology, who fears it could encourage reducing the importance of other languages. Te reo Māori has been official since the Māori Language Act 1987, and is classified as 'Definitely Endangered' by UNESCO. Only 4.3% of New Zealand's population (about 213,849 people) can hold a conversation in Māori. The debate reflects ongoing tensions over language rights and cultural identity in New Zealand.