The New Zealand Government has announced that English will soon appear above te reo Māori on the country’s passports.
This change, planned to begin in late 2027, has caused strong reactions from some political parties.
Since 2021, the words “Uruwhenua Aotearoa” (New Zealand Passport) in Māori have been placed above the English title. But under the new plan, that order will be reversed. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said this update is part of a passport security upgrade and won’t cost citizens more money.
However, Te Pāti Māori and the Green Party have criticised the move. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the change reduces the visibility of Māori culture and identity. She believes it sends a message that the Government wants to focus only on English and ignore New Zealand’s bicultural roots.
“Our passport shows who we are. Taking away the importance of te reo Māori is like taking away part of our national identity,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
Green MP Benjamin Doyle agreed, calling the decision “not a positive vision” for the country. He warned it could harm unity among New Zealanders and marginalise Māori voices.
In contrast, the ACT Party praised the update, saying it will put English first without increasing costs.
The redesign is part of a wider plan by the current Government to give English more importance in official documents. Critics worry this could undo years of progress in respecting te reo Māori, New Zealand’s first official language.
