Among all the countries where residents of Russia prefer to go on vacation, New Zealand keeps itself apart. Not everyone can afford an expensive and long flight, and therefore the number of Russian travelers to distant islands in the Pacific Ocean is still only in the hundreds. Among the main questions when preparing a trip, one of the most important is "What is the state language in New Zealand?" The answer to it contains three points at once: English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.
Some statistics and facts
- English is the main language of communication in the country. 96% percent of New Zealanders own and use it as a home.
- The New Zealand dialect of English is close to Australian, but its formation was more strongly influenced by the dialects of the south of England. The Maori language did not stand aside, from which many borrowed words were taken into New Zealand English.
- In addition, representatives of 171 language groups live on the islands! The most common languages after English and Maori are Samoan, Hindi, French and Chinese.
- Maori received the status of the state language of New Zealand in 1987. It belongs to the East Polynesian group and is native to 150 thousand people.
Maori: Ordinary or Exotic?
Almost 15% of the population of New Zealand are representatives of the indigenous Maori tribes who have inhabited the islands since time immemorial. The modern policy of the state is aimed at preserving the Maori ethnic group, and giving their language the status of the state in New Zealand is part of this policy.
The Maori language is used in the names of government agencies and departments, in hospitals and the military, and its study is mandatory for all schoolchildren in the country. In some secondary and higher educational institutions, teaching is conducted in two state languages at once. Many place names on the islands have been retained in the indigenous language, and all road signs have been duplicated in both Maori and English.
Tourist notes
Once in New Zealand, be calm if you know at least the basics of English. It contains all the information, maps, menus in restaurants, the schedule of work of objects, and so on. Even in aboriginal areas, the vast majority of New Zealand residents speak English.
