Robin Bishop is a passionate opportunist. As she lay back in the dentist's chair, waiting for the anaesthetic to kick in, the wily campaigner hit up not only the dentist, but also his nurse and the receptionist for their signatures on her petition. She's not one to let a chance go by.

Robin is the face and name behind the petition to have English legislated in New Zealand as an official language along with Te Reo and New Zealand Sign Language.

Soliciting signatures: The work never stops for Robin Bishop. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

'Why does the Maori language enjoy special status when English, which is spoken by 96 per cent of all New Zealanders, is not?” she asks.

Robin simply doesn't agree with sign language and Te Reo being enshrined in law with English 'just jogging along and being taken for granted”.

'I do not take anything for granted. And when I tell people about this out on the street they don't believe it. Most people are ready to sign the petition.”

But not everyone. 'Some young professional-looking women have told me they will think about it.”

Te Reo and sign language were given official protection because language revitalisation experts argue increasing the status of a language under threat improves its chances of survival.

'That's fine, however, my petition is to safeguard our common tongue, English, against who-knows-what in the future.”

Robin says Spanish is threatening to take over from English as the most spoken word in the United States, indicating there may well be concern for the future of the language there.

'Mandarin is making inroads in New Zealand. Will that get protection too?” Currently, Robin has perhaps a couple of thousand signatures. She throws down a folder of about three-dozen pages, each containing 20 signatures.

'I'm delighted with the response so far. But the job isn't done.”

There is no cut-off point, no threshold of numbers. 'I will do it well, not half-hearted. I have a responsibility to those who have signed.”

Tauranga MP and cabinet minister Simon Bridges has agreed to present Robin Bishop's petition to Parliament.

The petition can be signed at U Save Variety at Greerton, H & N Automotive on Courtney Rd, Cameron Road Food Plus, Grey Power at the Historic Village, Greerton RSA, Hooked On takeaways at Matua, Olivea Anstis Hair Studioin Greerton, Don Bayliss Clothing in Te Puke and Mossop's Honey Shop in Tauriko. Or email your support to [email protected]