New Zealand has three main languages: most people speak English, but Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are also official languages of the country.

Quick Scoop

  • The most widely spoken language in New Zealand is English, used by the vast majority of the population in daily life, government, media, and education.
  • The official languages (in law) are:
    • Māori (often called te reo Māori), made an official language in 1987.
* New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), recognised as an official language in 2006.
  • English is treated as a de facto official language because it is used almost everywhere in public life, even though its status has historically not been written into law the same way as Māori and NZSL.

Mini sections

Everyday speech

Most people in New Zealand grow up with New Zealand English, a local variety closely related to Australian English but with its own accent and vocabulary. In the 2018 census, about 95 percent of people could hold a conversation in English about everyday things.

Māori language

Māori is the language of the Indigenous Māori people and is an important part of New Zealand’s identity and place names. It has seen revitalisation through immersion schools, media, and growing use in public life since becoming an official language.

Sign language

New Zealand Sign Language is used by parts of the Deaf community and has official status, meaning it can be used in certain formal settings and is recognised as part of the country’s linguistic landscape. Although only a small percentage of the population uses it, it carries strong cultural and accessibility importance.

In short, if you travel to New Zealand right now, you’ll mainly hear English, you’ll often see and hear Māori, and you may also encounter New Zealand Sign Language in schools, public events, and services.

TL;DR: English is the main language spoken in New Zealand, while Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are officially recognised languages alongside it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.