2 October 2023
Grace Haden
[FYI request #23804 email]
Dear Grace
Official Information Request
Our Ref: OIA 2023-0228
I refer to your official information request received on 22 September 2023 where you have asked:
“You state "departments are able to use a trading name other than their legal name" could you
please by way of oia advise of the statutory basis for this statemnt As it was writen by an
anonomous person with no accountability it appears that it is a totally BS statement as much
as many of the so called translations are fictional as wel e.g. how can waka Kotahi posibbly
translate to the new zealand transport agency One vehicle is the translation I have one vehicle
I must be the the NZ transport agency then .
The Public service has an obligation to comply with the rule of law .
The New Zealand parliament which makes our laws was set up in 1852 "New Zealand
Constitution Act 1852" there is no refence to Aotearoa , this became an adopted name after
was used in an anthem in 1878 by an irish man who arrived in New Zealand in 1869 .pre-
European era, Māori did not have one name for the country as a whole there appears to be no
legislative definition or official translation that supports Aotearoa as the Maori name for New
Zealand please provide the legislative evidence on which you rely which al ows for the
subsitution of a legal name for a trading name either registerd or unregisterd based on an
allegation that it is a " maori name".
Information being released
There is no legislation that specifically supports the use of government agencies using a Māori name
alongside their English name, as we have noted in our previous responses to you dated 29 August
2023 and 15 September 2023, departments are able to use trading names other than their legal
names. We are therefore refusing your request under section 18(e) of the Official Information Act
1982, on the grounds the information does not exist.
Supporting information
Section 5 of the Maori Language Act 2006 outlines the recognition of Māori Language to be an official
language of New Zealand.
Section 14 of the Public Service Act 2020 outlines Crown’s relationship with
Māori and the role of the public service supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the
Treaty of Waitangi. Whether to have a Māori name or a te reo Māori translation and how to use it has
been a matter for individual agencies. Government departments typical y have senior Māori leaders
or external cultural advisers who assist in developing appropriate naming. Sometimes a name is
Level 10, RBNZ Building | 2 The Terrace | PO Box 329
Wel ington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
gifted by an iwi or group of iwi. On other occasions consultation with iwi leaders results in a name
being agreed upon.
Te reo Māori is one of our two official languages in Aotearoa New Zealand and Government is actively
committed to working in partnership with iwi and Māori to continue to protect and promote the
language. Government agencies aim to promote te reo Māori in an inclusive way and impose any
barriers to participate. The use of te reo Māori in resources and signs is part of the strategy to help
Aotearoa New Zealand revitalise the language.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) on the Te Kawa
Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Document Outline
