New Zealand has three official languages:
- English : The predominant language spoken by about 95.4% of the population, English is the main language used in government, education, and daily life. It is a de facto official language, with a distinct New Zealand English dialect similar to Australian English but with unique pronunciation and vocabulary
- Māori (Te Reo Māori) : The indigenous language of the Māori people, it became an official language in 1987. Although only around 4% of New Zealanders speak it fluently, it is widely taught in schools and used in public signage, especially on the North Island. Māori has influenced New Zealand English with many borrowed words
- New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) : Official since 2006, NZSL is used by the deaf community and incorporates some Māori words. It is more similar to British Sign Language than American Sign Language
In addition to these, New Zealand is linguistically diverse, with other languages such as Samoan, Mandarin, Hindi, and others spoken by minority communities
. In summary, the main languages spoken in New Zealand are English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being the most widely spoken language across the country.
