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We asked the political parties this question:
What will your party do to ensure Aotearoa NZ benefits socially, educationally and economically from the many languages spoken here?
The responses below were received from the ACT Party, the Green Party, the Labour Party, NZ First and the National Party. We did not receive responses from Te Pāti Māori or the Opportunity Party.
ACT Party
ACT recognises that language skills strengthen families and communities, improve educational opportunities, and help New Zealand businesses connect with the world.
ACT would:
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Ensure every child develops strong English literacy, while giving schools and families the freedom to choose additional languages, including te reo Māori and heritage languages.
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Support community-led teaching of Pasifika and other heritage languages, rather than imposing a single model from Wellington.
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Uphold the official status of English, te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, including access to NZSL interpreters where needed.
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Provide translation and interpreting for essential public services where required for safety, legal rights or effective access.
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Maintain appropriate English-language expectations for migrants while recognising the economic and social value of multilingual communities.
ACT values te reo Māori but does not support making it compulsory for every child from Year 1. Nor are we currently proposing a new National Languages Policy.
Our focus is on practical support, educational choice and services targeted to genuine need.
Green Party
The many languages spoken in Aotearoa are a huge strength. We must start with acknowledging and building from the foundation of our indigenous language, Te Reo Māori, and then look to the many languages of the other people who have made this land home. A key to this is genuine inclusivity and cherishing of diversity; this is the Kiwi way.
We would ensure language learning is supported in early childhood education, school, through higher education and through life. This would mean sustained resourcing and support for Maihi Karauna and Maihi Māori, and access for all learners at school to te reo.
The Green Party sees multilingualism as a strength. We would support language learning throughout education, improve access to interpreting and translation services, and work with communities to maintain and celebrate heritage languages. This delivers social inclusion, better educational outcomes, stronger connections between communities, and economic benefits through international trade, tourism, and cultural engagement.
Labour Party
The Labour Party has long been deeply committed to creating the conditions for languages to thrive, whether it be in our schools, workplaces, or communities.
With regards to Te Reo Māori, it was a Labour government that made Te Reo Māori an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1987. More recently, the previous Labour government invested in Māori education, across Māori Medium and English Medium schools, which included support for teaching Te Reo.
The previous Labour Government also launched the 2020-2030 Action Plan for Pacific Education, which included steps to grow and support Pacific language pathways in communities and schools.
Labour also officially recognised New Zealand Sign Language as an official language when in government in 2006, and the previous Labour government also invested funding to boost the use of Sign Language throughout the motu in 2023.
We will release our policies in due course as we approach the election. The Labour Party has a strong record of helping languages thrive in Aotearoa and we look forward to further demonstrating that commitment in government.
NZ First
NZ First recognises that New Zealand’s many languages are a social, educational, and economic asset, and supports practical initiatives that strengthen cohesion and opportunity.
Our priority is ensuring all communities can participate fully in society, which is why NZ First emphasises strong, accessible English‑language learning for migrants and refugees as the foundation for social mobility and integration.
At the same time, we value the cultural and educational benefits of heritage languages and support community‑driven programmes where demand exists and where they improve learner outcomes.
Economically, multilingual capability is vital for a trading nation, and NZ First supports leveraging language skills to deepen international relationships, boost tourism, and help businesses engage confidently in global markets.
Our approach is grounded in social cohesion, equal opportunity, and economic sovereignty ensuring language diversity enriches communities while supporting practical outcomes for education and the economy.
National Party
National recognises the important contribution that the many languages spoken and signed across New Zealand make to our communities, education system and economy.
Our linguistic diversity is a strength. Languages connect people to their culture, heritage and communities, while building cultural understanding and creating opportunities for New Zealanders to engage with the world. Language skills are also valuable to businesses looking to grow, trade and build relationships internationally.
Education has an important role to play in making the most of these opportunities. The National-led Government is refreshing the New Zealand Curriculum with a strong Learning Languages component that provides clearer expectations and progression for students learning additional languages. Covering 13 languages, including te reo Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, Pacific, Asian and European languages, the curriculum will be implemented progressively from 2027.
National is also focused on ensuring every child develops strong foundations in reading, writing and maths, while recognising the linguistic and cultural knowledge students bring to the classroom. Budget 2026 provided an additional $10 million over four years for English for Speakers of Other Languages support in schools, bringing annual funding to $73 million. We also continue to support fees-free English-language education for eligible adults through the Tertiary Education Commission, particularly supporting migrants and refugees to access further education and employment opportunities.
We're also strengthening te reo Māori education. Budget 2025 provided $14.7 million to help up to 51,000 teachers and kaiako develop their te reo Māori and tikanga skills, alongside $4.5 million for te reo Māori literacy and STEM resources in wharekura. Budget 2026 provided a further $2.9 million over four years to support the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust in meeting operating cost pressures, helping sustain more than 400 kōhanga reo nationwide.
We recognise that te reo Māori is a taonga and a defining part of Aotearoa New Zealand's identity. The National-led Government has refreshed the Maihi Karauna strategy, with the next phase focused on coordinated action across government to strengthen the everyday use of te reo Māori. Our Government is providing $19.4 million in 2026/27 to support community-led initiatives to revitalise, develop and promote te reo Māori through the Maihi Māori, alongside Te Mātāwai’s administration.. Beyond the classroom, our Government continues to support opportunities for New Zealanders to hear, learn and use te reo Māori, including through Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, nationally broadcast Matariki celebrations and Te Matatini's kapa haka competitions, which bring the language to life through waiata, performance and storytelling.
The National-led Government is also supporting the use and accessibility of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). In November 2025, our Government launched the NZSL Strategy 2026–2036, focused on strengthening language acquisition, increasing everyday use and improving access for Deaf New Zealanders. We continue to invest $1.25 million annually through the NZSL Board to maintain and promote the language, including support for community-led initiatives. Budget 2026 also provided $3 million over four years for Deaf education services, including additional places in NZSL immersion hubs, First Signs programmes and interpreting services for Deaf parents.
We're also supporting communities to preserve and celebrate Pacific languages. In 2025/26, the National-led Government continued funding the Pacific Languages Community Fund, making more than $1.3 million available for community-led initiatives that help people learn, use and strengthen Pacific languages, particularly among young people and across generations.
New Zealand's diverse ethnic communities also bring valuable skills, knowledge and international connections. National recognises their contribution to our society and economy, including the linguistic and cultural knowledge that helps connect New Zealand with international markets and communities.
To support communities to maintain and celebrate their heritage, the National-led Government continues to provide $4.2 million annually through the Ethnic Communities Development Fund. The fund prioritises community-led language learning and has supported initiatives including Cantonese and Tigrinya language classes, a Tamil Language Festival and ethnic community language classes in Waikato, alongside cultural celebrations that bring communities together.
National recognises the importance of not only supporting language learning and revitalisation, but also ensuring people can access essential services and participate fully in society, regardless of their first language. The Language Assistance Services and Welcoming Communities programmes, both established under the previous National-led Government, continue to support migrants, former refugees and diverse communities. Through these initiatives, public agencies can access professional interpreting services across more than 120 languages, while councils and local communities work together to help newcomers settle and build connections.
The existing work driven by National Party Ministers provides a clear programme for the years ahead, including implementing the updated Learning Languages curriculum, progressing the Maihi Karauna strategy, and delivering the NZSL Strategy 2026–2036. National will continue to recognise the value of New Zealand's diverse languages by championing educational achievement, supporting strong communities and fostering a connected society. We recognise that language skills and cultural understanding are valuable assets that help New Zealanders succeed at home and on the world stage.