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Language in New Zealand
New Zealand has three official languages: English, Maori and New Zealand Sign language. English is the most common language and it commonly used in the courts, in school and by the public sector. Maori and New Zealand Sign languages have special status under the law. People can use these language legally and Maori is also taught in most school in New Zealand. Due to many migrants, many other languages are now spoken. In New Zealand, 90 percent of people speak English, 3 percent speaks Maori, 2 percent speaks Samoan, 2percent speaks Hindi, and many other languages are around 1 percent.
The third largest Pacific group in New Zealand with over 60,000 people are Tongan. Half of Tongan speaks their own indigenous languages. According to Dr. Fonua-Faemani, many of Tongan people are in very high need. Most of New Zealand people does not speaks Tongan thus some of Tongan cannot communicate with doctors and having bad health conditions. She also mentioned that many New Zealand born youth are having problem with their language so it was up to older generations to help them feel comfortable at attempting Tongan. It is very important to carry on the traditional inheritance, as they are Tongan, and to learn New Zealand culture in the same time.
Recently, the New Zealand government announced an extension of Asian language programs in school to help meet the growing demand. Government would support to expand Asian language programs at 63 schools across the country. According to survey, New Zealanders were feeling more connected to and positive about Asia and think important to develop economic and cultural ties with the region.
UN, IMF and WTO
New Zealand was one of countries to sign the United Nation on 26 June 1945. Involvement in the UN encouraged New Zealand to move away from its traditional reliance on England and take independent foreign policy. New Zealand has been heavily involved with social and economic UN agencies such as: World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Additionally, New Zealand contributes to the six principal organizations of the UN:
- The General Assembly: All member states of the UN meet to discuss international issues and make solutions. In 1957, Sir Leslie Munro was president of the General Assembly.
- The Security Council: The Security Council’s job is to maintain international peace and security. It has 15 members, of whom 5 are permanent and 10 are elected. Over the last six decades New Zealand sent 2000 troops and two frigates to the Korean Peninsula in response to armed forces against North Korea. According to the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) says after New Zealand participated in the Korean War, it helped to construct security and peace in the Korean Peninsula.
- The Economic and Social Council: promoting international economic and development.
- The Trusteeship Council: to help territories that used to be colonized and to be independent. New Zealand strongly support Western Samoa to be independent in 1962.
- The International Court of Justice: is the principal judicial organization of the UN
- The Secretariat: carries out the day-to-day work of the UN.
Since August 31, 1961 New Zealand joined International Monetary Fund (IMF). Currently, IMF warned New Zealand’s low national saving levels and heavy reliance on offshore funding. The country’s foreign liabilities far exceed its assets, approximately 65 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. At the same time, rapid house inflation in Auckland is ongoing and recovery has waned due to fall in dairy prices and recover investment for damage from Canterbury earthquake. However, the IMF said that short-term recovery is challenging but economy is flexible and resilient, and medium-term prospects remain positive. Also, according to fiscal policy, IMF mentioned that the planned easing this year and next year, increasing in investment for infrastructure, resumption of gradual consolidation, then will be stabilized again. New Zealand, notwithstanding high level living standards, due to relatively low capital intensity and productivity, incomes lag those of other advanced economy countries.
New Zealand joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) since it started in 1995. The WTO set the global rules of trade. Its main function is to make sure that trade flows as smoothly and freely as possible between its members. Members can trade under WTO agreements, all have to be part of world trade negotiation and participate in Trade Policy Reviews. Currently New Zealand have the WTO agreement on agriculture. New Zealand is a member of the Cairns Group, Cairns Group countries span five continents and produce up a third of world’s agricultural exports. New Zealand also participating in set up rules on fisheries subsidies. Prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies will bring significant benefits to New Zealand and Pacific nations.
Trade. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved from
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/our-work-with-the-wto/#nzwto
Rumney, R. (Feb 9th, 2016). IMF urges New Zealand to reduce dependence on foreign funds. Public Finance International. Retrieved from
Participation in the United Nations. (Apr 20th, 2016). New Zealand History. Retrieved from
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/page/further-information-new-zealand-and-the-united-nations
Pacific. (Sep 6th, 2016). Tongan language week kicks off in NZ. Radionz. Retrieved from
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/pacific/312587/malo-e-lelei,-ton gan-language-week
Xinhua. (Aug 30th, 2016). New Zealand expands Asian language teaching in schools. Global Times. Retrieved from
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1003674.shtml
The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua. (2013). Top 25 Languages in New Zealand [Data file]. Retrieved from
http://ethniccommunities.govt.nz/story/top-25-languages-new-zealand
Woolf, AL. (Aug 20th, 2015). Petition to make English an official language in New Zealand. Stuff. Retrieved from
Australia & Oceania 