The official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori, and New Zealand sign language. New Zealand is the English name, the short local name is 'Godzone', and the long local name is 'God's Own Country'.The second largest language in New Zealand is Maori. 'Father' in Maori is 'papa', 'I'm sorry' is 'au pouri ahau', 'What's your name?' is 'he aha te tou ingoa', 'My name is Katie' is 'Ko toku ingoa Katie', and 'I love you' is 'aroha ahau ki a koutou'. 'Hello' in Maori is 'hello', 'goodbye' is 'poroporoaki', 'mother' is 'whaea', 'how are you?' is 'pehea e koe', and 'thank you' is 'whakawhetai koe'.
The two top languages of New Zealand are English and Maori. English is in the Indo-European language family and the West Germanic language branch. Maori is a dialect of Polynesian, and the Polynesian language belongs to the Austronesian language family and the Eastern, or Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family. In the last 200 years the history of the Maori language has been one of ups and downs. At the beginning of the 19th century it was the predominant language spoken in New Zealand. As more English speakers arrived in New Zealand, the Maori language was increasingly confined to Maori communities. For the first half-century or so of European settlement, the Maori language was a common way of communicating. Early settlers were dependent on Maori for many things and had to learn to speak the language if they wished to trade with them. As more settlers arrived, the need for written communication in Maori grew. Missionaries first attempted to write down the Maori language in 1814. Up to the 1870s, and in some areas for several decades after that, it was not unusual for government officials, missionaries and other prominent New Zealanders to speak Maori. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives launched from the 1980s have brought about a revival of Maori. In the early 21st century, about 125,000 people of Maori ethnicity can speak and understand Maori, which has an official status alongside English and New Zealand Sign Language.
The two top languages of New Zealand are English and Maori. English is in the Indo-European language family and the West Germanic language branch. Maori is a dialect of Polynesian, and the Polynesian language belongs to the Austronesian language family and the Eastern, or Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family. In the last 200 years the history of the Maori language has been one of ups and downs. At the beginning of the 19th century it was the predominant language spoken in New Zealand. As more English speakers arrived in New Zealand, the Maori language was increasingly confined to Maori communities. For the first half-century or so of European settlement, the Maori language was a common way of communicating. Early settlers were dependent on Maori for many things and had to learn to speak the language if they wished to trade with them. As more settlers arrived, the need for written communication in Maori grew. Missionaries first attempted to write down the Maori language in 1814. Up to the 1870s, and in some areas for several decades after that, it was not unusual for government officials, missionaries and other prominent New Zealanders to speak Maori. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives launched from the 1980s have brought about a revival of Maori. In the early 21st century, about 125,000 people of Maori ethnicity can speak and understand Maori, which has an official status alongside English and New Zealand Sign Language.