Kia ora C Johnston

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Johnston <[FOI #31762 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 26 July 2025 2:01 pm
To: Official Correspondence <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Aotearoa reference in Road Code -
Legal Basis

 

[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #31762 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,

 

I notice the reference to Aotearoa in this web page:  
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

===

For example:

 

Keeping Left

 

We drive on the left-hand side of the road in Aotearoa.

 

If you don't keep left, you're likely to cause a head-on crash. This is
one of the worst types of crash, as it almost always results in death or
serious injury.

 

Keeping left on a laned road

 

Most roads in Aotearoa have lanes marked on them with a white line, double
white line or raised studs.

…

===

 

Could NZTA please outline its understanding of the legal basis and
standing of this web page content in New Zealand law and its
enforceability by the Police.

 

I ask because:

1) the country - New Zealand - is not mentioned

2) Aotearoa is not an English word and the web page is written in the
English language for residents who know English - so the use of another
language is out of place.

3) Aotearoa is not a known country recognised by the United Nations or New
Zealand law - so may not be legally enforceable.

4) In Maori, Aotearoa only refers to a part of the country of New
Zealand.  So does this rule not apply to - for example - Queenstown?

 

I refer you to this summary of Aotearoa as a valid country name by Grok4: 
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

===

Question: Is the name Aotearoa recognised as a formal country name by the
United Nations, or by New Zealand law?

 

Answer:  No, the name Aotearoa is not recognized as a formal country name
by the United Nations. The UN officially refers to the country as "New
Zealand" in its membership lists and terminology databases.

 

No, the name Aotearoa is also not recognized as a formal country name
under New Zealand law. While it is widely used as an alternative Mâori
name—including on currency, passports, and in parliamentary contexts—and
can be employed interchangeably with "New Zealand" in some official
settings, the legal name remains "New Zealand" and can only be changed
through legislation.

 

===

 

NZTA’s answer may be that there is a different officially gazetted /
issued / legal version of the New Zealand Road Code that is not this web
page.  Please clarify if any official legal version enforceable by the
police or the courts mentions an official country name, or Aotearoa, and
explain:

- Why the web page above is the same or not the same as the legal version?

- What is the purpose of any difference?

- Any legal advice about the effect of any difference before or after the
difference was created, or before or after the use of a non-country name
was begun;

- Which public servant role authorised the use of Aotearoa on the website,
and please provide the Record that substantiates the authorisation (eg
document or email).

 

Regardless of the above, please change the English NZTA web pages to use
“New Zealand” - the name of the country NZTA administers laws and
regulations for. It will minimise confusion, and any enforceability
issues.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

C Johnston

 

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