Why does Māori take precedence over English at the New Zealand Govt.nz website?
M.R.M. made this Official Information request to Judith Collins
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for M.R.M. to read recent responses and update the status.
From: M.R.M.
Dear Judith Collins,
New Zealand's estimated Māori ethnic population is approximately 914,400, representing about 17.1% of the total national population. Most Māori, and the majority of the balance of people who are citizens or resident permit holders living in this country, are fluent in speaking, reading and writing English. Yet, at the New Zealand Govt.nz website the home page carries the title "Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa" in bold letters with the title "New Zealand Government" underneath that in standard letters. As the Minister for Digitising Government please can you please explain and/or give me the purpose and reasoning behind the apparent government decision to use Māori language first and English language second throughout all pages of the Govt.nz website.
Yours faithfully,
MRM
From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins
Thank you for contacting Hon Judith Collins KC MP, Attorney-General,
Minister of Defence, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister
Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister for
the Public Service and Minister for Space.
Hon Judith Collins considers all correspondence important and appreciates
you taking the time to write. As the Minister receives a large amount of
correspondence, it is not always possible to personally reply to all
emails.
If your correspondence is related to a constituent matter, please get in
touch with the Minister's electorate team by emailing
[email address] or by calling the Papakura
office on (09) 299 7426.
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accordingly, and we will be back in contact with you. If your
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If your correspondence relates to media, it will be referred to the media
team. Latest information from the Beehive can be found here:
[1]https://www.beehive.govt.nz
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Kind regards
Office of the Hon Judith Collins KC MP
References
Visible links
1. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
From: M.R.M.
Dear Judith Collins,
Thank you for the generic reply.
To confirm, my request falls under the Official Information Act and I expect a response from Min. Judith Collins.
Confirmation that my request is being processed as an Official Information Act matter is requested at your earliest possible convenience.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
M.R.M.
From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins
Kia ora
This is an official acknowledgement of your OIA request.
Warm regards,
Office of Hon Judith Collins
Anna Bebbington
Private Secretary (Administration) | Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP
Member of Parliament for Papakura
Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
DDI: 04 817 6808
Email: [1][email address] Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
-----Original Message-----
From: M.R.M. <[FOI #34274 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 28 March 2026 6:03 AM
To: Judith Collins (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: JCOIA-527 Official Information request - Why does Māori take
precedence over English at the New Zealand Govt.nz website?
Dear Judith Collins,
New Zealand's estimated Māori ethnic population is approximately 914,400,
representing about 17.1% of the total national population. Most Māori,
and the majority of the balance of people who are citizens or resident
permit holders living in this country, are fluent in speaking, reading and
writing English. Yet, at the New Zealand Govt.nz website the home page
carries the title "Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa" in bold letters with the
title "New Zealand Government" underneath that in standard letters. As
the Minister for Digitising Government please can you please explain
and/or give me the purpose and reasoning behind the apparent government
decision to use Māori language first and English language second
throughout all pages of the Govt.nz website.
Yours faithfully,
MRM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FOI #34274 email]
Is [5][Judith Collins request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Judith Collins? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[6]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
3. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
4. mailto:[FOI #34274 email]
5. mailto:[Judith Collins request email]
6. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
7. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
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From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins
Kia ora,
Please find attached a response to your OIA request.
Warm regards,
Office of Hon Judith Collins KC
Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP
Member of Parliament for Papakura
Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
DDI: 04 817 6808
Email: [1][email address] Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Sent: Monday, 30 March 2026 11:19 AM
To: 'M.R.M.' <[4][FOI #34274 email]>
Subject: RE: JCOIA-527 Official Information request - Why does Māori take
precedence over English at the New Zealand Govt.nz website?
Kia ora
This is an official acknowledgement of your OIA request.
Warm regards,
Office of Hon Judith Collins
Anna Bebbington
Private Secretary (Administration) | Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP
Member of Parliament for Papakura
Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
DDI: 04 817 6808
Email: [5][email address] Website:
[6]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[7]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
-----Original Message-----
From: M.R.M. <[8][FOI #34274 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 28 March 2026 6:03 AM
To: Judith Collins (MIN) <[9][email address]>
Subject: JCOIA-527 Official Information request - Why does Māori take
precedence over English at the New Zealand Govt.nz website?
Dear Judith Collins,
New Zealand's estimated Māori ethnic population is approximately 914,400,
representing about 17.1% of the total national population. Most Māori,
and the majority of the balance of people who are citizens or resident
permit holders living in this country, are fluent in speaking, reading and
writing English. Yet, at the New Zealand Govt.nz website the home page
carries the title "Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa" in bold letters with the
title "New Zealand Government" underneath that in standard letters. As
the Minister for Digitising Government please can you please explain
and/or give me the purpose and reasoning behind the apparent government
decision to use Māori language first and English language second
throughout all pages of the Govt.nz website.
Yours faithfully,
MRM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #34274 email]
Is [11][Judith Collins request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Judith Collins? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[12]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[13]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
3. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
4. mailto:[FOI #34274 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
7. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
8. mailto:[FOI #34274 email]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. mailto:[FOI #34274 email]
11. mailto:[Judith Collins request email]
12. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
13. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
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