Te Reo Māori and Plain Language in New Zealand Government Content
New Zealand government content must be accessible, inclusive, and increasingly bilingual. Here's how to review content for plain language standards and appropriate te reo Māori integration.
New Zealand has a unique content challenge: government communications must be accessible in plain English, increasingly incorporate te reo Māori as an official language, and respect the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). The New Zealand Government Web Standards and the Plain Language Act 2022 establish formal requirements for how government agencies communicate with the public.
For government agencies, Crown entities, and organisations contracted to deliver government services, content must meet three overlapping standards: plain language (accessible to the broadest possible audience), te reo Māori inclusion (reflecting New Zealand's bicultural identity and Treaty obligations), and digital accessibility (WCAG compliance for all digital content).
This guide covers what New Zealand's content standards require, how to integrate te reo Māori appropriately, where organisations commonly fail, and how to build a content review process that meets all three standards.
The Plain Language Act 2022
What It Requires
The Plain Language Act requires government agencies to use plain language in public-facing documents. Key provisions:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | Applies to all documents issued by government agencies to the public |
| Definition | Plain language means language that is "appropriate to the intended audience" and uses "clear, concise, and well-organised" communication |
| Agency obligations | Each agency must take reasonable steps to ensure documents comply |
| Plain language officer | Each agency should have a person responsible for promoting plain language |
| No enforcement mechanism | The Act doesn't create penalties — but it establishes a clear expectation and creates accountability |
Plain Language Standards
| Criterion | Target | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Reading level | Grade 8-9 (Flesch-Kincaid) for general public content | Average New Zealand adult reads at this level |
| Sentence length | Average 15-20 words | Longer sentences are harder to comprehend |
| Paragraph length | 2-4 sentences | Short paragraphs aid scanning |
| Active voice | Predominant | "We will process your application" not "Your application will be processed" |
| Everyday vocabulary | Preferred over technical or bureaucratic terms | "Use" not "utilise"; "help" not "facilitate" |
| Structure | Headings, lists, tables for complex information | Enables scanning and finding specific information |
| Front-loading | Key information first | Readers may not read to the end |
Te Reo Māori in Government Content
The Language Context
Te reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand alongside English and New Zealand Sign Language. The Māori Language Act 2016 established Te Mātāwai to lead the revitalisation of te reo Māori and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) to promote the language in government.
The Maihi Karauna (Crown Māori Language Strategy) sets the government's goals for te reo Māori in the public sector:
- By 2040, 1 million New Zealanders will be able to speak basic te reo Māori
- Government agencies are expected to increase their use of te reo Māori in communications
- Te reo Māori should be normalised in everyday government interactions
How to Integrate Te Reo Māori Appropriately
| Level | Approach | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic integration | Common greetings, place names, and widely understood terms used naturally | "Kia ora" as a greeting; "whānau" instead of (or alongside) "family" |
| Bilingual headings | Section headings in both te reo Māori and English | "Ngā Hua / Benefits" |
| Key phrases | Important concepts expressed in both languages | "Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment)" |
| Full bilingual content | Complete content available in both languages | Separate te reo Māori and English versions of key documents |
| Te reo Māori first | Te reo Māori as the primary language with English translation | Used by some agencies for specific communications |
Common Te Reo Māori Integration Principles
| Principle | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | Te reo Māori must be correct — incorrect usage is disrespectful. Have content reviewed by a competent te reo Māori speaker |
| Context | Use te reo Māori where it adds meaning, not as tokenistic decoration |
| Macrons | Always use macrons (tohutō) — they change meaning. "Māori" not "Maori"; "whānau" not "whanau" |
| Consistency | Use te reo Māori terms consistently throughout a document or website |
| Accessibility | Provide English translations or explanations for te reo Māori terms that may not be widely understood |
| Cultural appropriateness | Consult with Māori stakeholders on the appropriate use of te reo Māori in specific contexts |
| Pronunciation guidance | For audio/video content, ensure correct pronunciation of te reo Māori |
Commonly Used Te Reo Māori Terms in Government Content
| Te Reo Māori | English | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|
| Kia ora | Hello / Thank you | Greetings, email sign-offs |
| Whānau | Family (extended) | Health, social services, education |
| Tamariki | Children | Education, child protection |
| Kaitiakitanga | Guardianship, stewardship | Environment, sustainability |
| Mana | Authority, prestige, power | Governance, empowerment |
| Whenua | Land | Environment, property, planning |
| Hauora | Health, wellbeing | Health services |
| Mātauranga | Knowledge, education | Education, research |
| Tikanga | Custom, protocol | Cultural guidance, procedures |
| Whakapapa | Genealogy, lineage | Identity, heritage |
| Rangatiratanga | Sovereignty, self-determination | Governance, Treaty discussions |
| Kaupapa | Purpose, principle, policy | Policy documents, strategy |
Digital Accessibility Standards
NZ Government Web Standards
The NZ Government Web Standards require:
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Web Accessibility Standard | WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance for all government websites |
| Web Usability Standard | Content must be usable, findable, and accessible |
| Content design | User-centred content design principles |
| Mobile accessibility | Content must work on mobile devices |
Content-Specific Accessibility
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reading level | Grade 8-9 for general public content |
| Heading structure | Descriptive, hierarchical headings (H1 → H2 → H3) |
| Link text | Descriptive — no "click here" |
| Alternative text | All non-decorative images described |
| Tables | Data tables have identified headers |
| Forms | Clear labels, format examples, helpful error messages |
| Documents | PDFs and other documents tagged for accessibility |
| Multilingual | Te reo Māori content meets the same accessibility standards as English |
Common Content Failures
1. Bureaucratic Language
Government agencies default to formal, complex language:
| Bureaucratic | Plain Language |
|---|---|
| "The aforementioned provisions shall apply" | "These rules apply" |
| "Pursuant to section 42" | "Under section 42" |
| "Notwithstanding the foregoing" | "Even so" or "Despite this" |
| "Facilitate the implementation of" | "Help set up" |
| "In the event that" | "If" |
| "Prior to" | "Before" |
| "Utilise" | "Use" |
| "Commence" | "Start" or "Begin" |
| "Subsequently" | "Then" or "After" |
| "Pertaining to" | "About" |
2. Incorrect Te Reo Māori
- Missing macrons (changing meaning — "keke" means cake, "kēkē" means armpit)
- Grammatical errors in te reo Māori phrases
- Using te reo Māori words in incorrect context
- Inconsistent use — some pages use te reo Māori, others don't
- Tokenistic use — a single "kia ora" with no other integration
- No te reo Māori review by a competent speaker
3. Accessibility Failures
- Reading level too high (Grade 12+ for general public content)
- Non-descriptive link text ("click here," "read more")
- Documents (PDFs) not tagged for accessibility
- Te reo Māori content not meeting the same accessibility standards as English
- Forms without clear instructions or helpful error messages
- Images without alternative text
4. Inconsistent Bilingual Approach
- English content updated but te reo Māori version not
- Different information in English and te reo Māori versions
- Te reo Māori navigation not matching English navigation
- No clear language switcher on bilingual websites
- Te reo Māori content treated as secondary rather than equal
Building a Government Content Review Process
Step 1: Content Audit
| Page/Document | Reading Level | Te Reo Māori | WCAG Compliant? | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homepage | Grade 9 ✅ | Basic integration ✅ | ⚠️ 2 issues | Jan 2026 |
| Apply for [Service] | Grade 12 ❌ | None ❌ | ❌ 5 issues | Aug 2025 |
| About Us | Grade 10 ⚠️ | Bilingual headings ✅ | ✅ | Nov 2025 |
| Policy Document | Grade 15 ❌ | None ❌ | ❌ Not tagged | Mar 2025 |
| FAQ | Grade 9 ✅ | Basic integration ✅ | ✅ | Dec 2025 |
Step 2: Review Criteria
Plain language:
- Reading level ≤ Grade 9 (Flesch-Kincaid)
- Active voice predominant
- Everyday vocabulary (no bureaucratic language)
- Short sentences (average 15-20 words)
- Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences)
- Front-loaded key information
- Headings are descriptive and scannable
- Lists used for 3+ related items
Te reo Māori:
- Macrons used correctly throughout
- Te reo Māori usage reviewed by competent speaker
- Consistent level of integration across the site/document
- English translations provided for terms that may not be widely understood
- Culturally appropriate usage
- Place names in te reo Māori where appropriate
- If bilingual versions exist, both are current and aligned
Accessibility:
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance
- Descriptive link text (no "click here")
- All images have alternative text
- Heading hierarchy correct (H1 → H2 → H3)
- Forms have clear labels and instructions
- Documents tagged for accessibility
- Language identified in HTML (both English and te reo Māori)
Step 3: Implement Review Workflow
- Content drafted in plain English
- Plain language review (reading level, structure, vocabulary)
- Te reo Māori integration added
- Te reo Māori reviewed by competent speaker
- Accessibility review (WCAG 2.1 AA)
- Both language versions reviewed for alignment
- Publish
- Quarterly content audit
Step 4: Review Cycles
| Activity | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Plain language spot-check (10-20 pages) | Monthly |
| Te reo Māori accuracy review | Quarterly |
| WCAG accessibility audit | Semi-annually |
| Full content audit (all public pages) | Annually |
| Bilingual content alignment check | Quarterly |
| New content review (before publishing) | Every piece |
Using AI to Review Government Content
What AI Can Check
- Reading level — instant Flesch-Kincaid scoring for English content
- Plain language — flag bureaucratic vocabulary, passive voice, complex sentences
- Structure — check heading hierarchy, paragraph length, use of lists
- Link text — identify non-descriptive links
- Consistency — flag inconsistent terminology across pages
- Macron presence — check that common te reo Māori words include macrons
- Front-loading — verify key information appears early in content
What AI Cannot Check
- Whether te reo Māori is grammatically correct and culturally appropriate (requires human speaker review)
- Whether HTML structure meets WCAG technical requirements
- Whether bilingual content is accurately translated and aligned
- Whether content meets the specific needs of Māori communities
- Cultural appropriateness of te reo Māori usage in specific contexts
Practical Example
In TeamBench, you could configure a reviewer:
Reviewer name: NZ Government Content Reviewer
System prompt:
You are a content reviewer for New Zealand government communications. Review content against the Plain Language Act 2022, NZ Government Web Standards, and te reo Māori integration best practices. For plain language: check reading level (target Grade 8-9), flag bureaucratic vocabulary (replace with everyday alternatives), check for active voice, short sentences, and front-loaded key information. For te reo Māori: check that macrons are present on common Māori words (Māori, whānau, tamariki, kaitiakitanga, etc.), flag inconsistent usage across the content, and note where English translations should accompany te reo Māori terms. For accessibility: check heading hierarchy, link text quality, and content structure. Use New Zealand English. Note: te reo Māori accuracy must be verified by a human te reo Māori speaker — flag content for te reo review.
Evaluation criteria:
- Plain Language (weight: 3) — Grade 8-9 reading level, no bureaucratic vocabulary, active voice
- Te Reo Māori Integration (weight: 3) — Macrons present, consistent usage, translations where needed
- Accessibility (weight: 2) — Descriptive headings, links, and content structure
- Consistency (weight: 1) — Terminology consistent throughout
- Structure (weight: 1) — Front-loaded, scannable, well-organised
Quality gate: Minimum score: 75.
Upload the Plain Language Act guidance, your agency's te reo Māori style guide, and the NZ Government Web Standards into a Knowledge Base. Use the readability checker for quick page-level scoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Plain Language Act enforceable?
The Plain Language Act 2022 creates obligations for government agencies but doesn't include penalties for non-compliance. However, it creates accountability — agencies must take "reasonable steps" to ensure plain language in public documents. The Act signals a clear government expectation and creates a basis for challenge if content is unnecessarily complex.
Do we need all content in te reo Māori?
No — the current expectation is not full bilingual content for everything. The appropriate level of te reo Māori integration depends on: your agency's role (agencies working closely with Māori communities should have higher integration), the audience (is the content specifically for Māori communities?), and your agency's Maihi Karauna commitments. At minimum, basic integration (greetings, common terms, place names) is expected.
How do we ensure te reo Māori accuracy?
Have all te reo Māori content reviewed by a competent speaker — ideally someone with formal te reo Māori qualifications or extensive native speaker experience. AI tools and translation software are not sufficient for te reo Māori quality assurance. Build relationships with te reo Māori reviewers as part of your content workflow.
What reading level should we target?
Grade 8-9 (Flesch-Kincaid) for general public content. For content targeting specific professional audiences (e.g., regulatory guidance for licensed professionals), Grade 10-12 may be appropriate. For critical content where misunderstanding has serious consequences (health, safety, legal rights), aim for Grade 7-8.
Do macrons really matter?
Yes — macrons (tohutō) change the meaning of te reo Māori words. "Ata" means morning; "ātā" means carefully. "Keke" means cake; "kēkē" means armpit. Using macrons correctly shows respect for the language and avoids miscommunication. Ensure your content management system and fonts support macrons.
How do we handle place names?
Use te reo Māori place names where they are the official or commonly used name. The New Zealand Geographic Board / Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa maintains the official list of place names. Some places have dual names (e.g., Aoraki / Mount Cook). Follow your agency's style guide for dual name formatting.
Key Takeaways
- The Plain Language Act 2022 creates formal obligations for government agencies to use plain language in public-facing documents. Target Grade 8-9 reading level.
- Te reo Māori integration is expected in government content — at minimum, common greetings, place names, and key terms. The level of integration should match your agency's role and audience.
- Macrons are essential — they change meaning and their absence is disrespectful. Ensure all te reo Māori content includes correct macrons.
- Te reo Māori accuracy requires human review — AI tools cannot verify grammatical correctness or cultural appropriateness. Build te reo Māori review into your content workflow.
- Digital accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) applies to all content — including te reo Māori content. Both language versions must meet the same accessibility standards.
- Common failures include bureaucratic language, missing macrons, inconsistent te reo Māori usage, accessibility gaps, and bilingual content that's out of sync.
- AI-assisted review can check reading level, bureaucratic vocabulary, macron presence, and content structure, but cannot verify te reo Māori accuracy or cultural appropriateness.
- Build a three-layer review process: plain language review, te reo Māori review (by a competent speaker), and accessibility review — before every publication.
This article provides general information about New Zealand government content standards and is not legal advice. Always consult Digital.govt.nz for current web standards, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for te reo Māori guidance, and your agency's communications team for specific requirements.