Many countries around the world have bilingual road signs using their official languages, but are they "confusing" in New Zealand? SunLive put the question to the city which ignited the latest national debate.
The proposed road signs including both English and Te Reo Māori are now heading to public consultation, according to Waka Kotahi.
Speaking in Tauranga last week, National spokesperson for transport Simeon Brown sparked the conversation after claiming the signs are "confusing" and "should be in English".
Some residents, however, disagree with Brown, saying bilingual signs are "a great idea", while others share a similar stance to Brown during his speech in Bethlehem.
Laia Marrey is a visitor to New Zealand, and originally comes from Barcelona. She says she can clearly identify a proposed bilingual bus stop sign.
"I guess [New Zealanders] won't find the sign confusing. I don't, so I assume they won't."
Meanwhile, Raewyn Merrie is a Tauranga resident who believes bilingual road signs are a good idea, but may be confusing for people who come from overseas.
"The problem might be with overseas visitors. But I think for the general New Zealander, because it has English underneath it's not an issue," says Raewyn.
Robywn Willis believes the proposed bilingual signs are "extremely confusing".
"The bus stop should be the dominant part, not the Māori part. I don't mind having the Māori part there but it should be underneath."
Meanwhile, Lesa Fuaivaa says she is "all for" bilingual signs being introduced, but New Zealanders may be confused at first while adjusting to the new signs.
Tony Hutchby says he has "no problem" with signs displaying English and Te Reo.
"You see it overseas a lot anyway. It doesn't bother me very much. I just go straight to the English because I can understand it."
Anthony Lugosharpe says the bilingual signs are not confusing, and recognising the Te Reo on road signs is "appropriate".
Steve Neill says the road signs are confusing.
"I understand bus stop, but I don't understand Tūnga Pahi."
Steve says the average Kiwi wouldn't have trouble identifying what the signs mean if "both languages" are displayed.
Marcus Wikins says the image displayed on most road signs clearly displays what they mean, says he doesn't think the average Kiwi will find bilingual signs confusing.
To watch the full video, click the play button near the top of this article.
15 comments
It’s what makes NZ unique
Posted on 01-06-2023 08:28 | By waiknot
I like it with the exception of places where it could become a distraction. As an example driving into Auckland Airport there were already an overload of signs demanding my attention in a very congested fast paced environment. This could make navigation more difficult.
Hmm
Posted on 01-06-2023 09:51 | By nerak
I can see a need soon for much larger signs, with other ethnicities wanting a share of the space too :) POPULATION NZ MAORI ASIAN 2023 906,900 934,300
Waiknot has a point.
Posted on 01-06-2023 14:31 | By morepork
Dual language signing can be confusing where there are many signs in a fast moving environment. So we need to approach this with good common sense.
Road signage
Posted on 01-06-2023 14:35 | By Let's get real
Most people will likely have very little problem with incorporating the Maori language onto road signage, after all, we live in Rotorua, Tauranga, Waihi etc... What is likely to stir major disagreement will be placing the Maori names above and in a larger font to the currently recognised European place names. Everyone knows Auckland, North shore, Newmarket, Hastings etc and when travelling in a vehicle, immediate identification of a roadside information board is critical to ensure safety and to assist in the government's "road to zero" campaign. We don't need distracted drivers, we need safe drivers who know where they are going and can quickly identify a road sign whilst in heavy traffic
Our problem is NOT the signage.
Posted on 01-06-2023 14:39 | By morepork
Our problem is that English is NOT an official language for NZ, and THAT is what needs immediate rectification. English, technically, has no right to even be on a sign. Te Reo is the only official language currently. We should have TWO official languages (like a number of other countries) and the "primary" one (spoken by the majority of the population, and nothing to do with emotional arguments and Racist views) should be used for places where dual signage would be distracting. (As noted here by 'waiknot'). One of the top priorities for ANY new government should be to ensure that English is an official language. At the moment our Hansard record (Parliamentary proceedings) might as well be in Swahili or Klingon for all the legal weight it carries.
No
Posted on 01-06-2023 15:18 | By Andrew64
The proposal is to double the amount of words on a sign. That takes twice as long to read, add to confusion as a tiny fraction of the populous can understand it all the while taking one away from their primary function of driving safely. It is an entirely pointless and worthless exercise.
Road signs
Posted on 01-06-2023 15:29 | By Robin
Never learnt Maori at school but tried later but didn’t really succeed. Like to see it on road signs but please put English first and the Maori to stop confusion!
Forget it
Posted on 01-06-2023 16:14 | By The Professor
I have a number of issues. Countries around the world have bilingual road signs for tourism purposes. They are generally local language plus English as that is one of the most spoken languages. How many tourists to NZ could would be able to speak Maori - this is an exercise purely to appease a few. Secondly, why does the Maori name need to come first? It should be large English text first followed by smaller Mario text because that is the least spoken language in NZ. Thirdly, NZTA should spend the money on fixing potholes not on ridiculous initiatives to keep a few people happy. Fourth - this will be a distraction and goes against keeping your eye on the road for the equally ridiculous Road 2 Zero campaign. It seems to me that NZTA are hell bent on neglecting our roads!!
The bigger question is
Posted on 01-06-2023 16:42 | By Mountie888
How much will it cost the taxpayer when the money could be put to better use in these times!
What a farce
Posted on 01-06-2023 16:56 | By Angels
This is another way to get a greater devide of the country. This 17% max wagging the tail of the whole country must come to an abrupt stop. All this craziness has caused a huge dive between the races. What stupidity. Fix the roads fix the country not spend stupidly and dived the nation
It;s all part
Posted on 01-06-2023 17:40 | By R. Bell
of the long overdue process of familiarisation of the indigenous language of this nation. Long overdue. The more we are all exposed to te reo the better we will live in harmony, with the exception of the hard nosed, negative minority who object to any inclusion, other than on their terms. Bring on the new signs, in a few years it will all be normal, and the negative thinkers will find a new cause.
Bollocks
Posted on 02-06-2023 08:55 | By Helo1
What a load of bollocks R Bell! It should be optional for everyone if they want to learn well and good, if not don’t jam it down our throats or waste kids time at school learning something they will never need. Not to mention the absolute squander of taxpayers dollars.
@Helo1
Posted on 02-06-2023 12:46 | By morepork
It really depends on whether you embrace Maori culture (Maoritanga) as part of your own. I do, and I'm proud to be a non-Maori Kiwi. If Maoritanga was eradicated I (for one...) would feel shockingly deprived, and less Kiwi.) But that is a personal view. Your view is down to you. Robin Bell is correct that exposure to Te Reo does cause better familiarity, but the objection from most people is that the current government is fixated on pushing it onto us. If you move towards Te Reo, it HAS to be voluntary (as for ANY language other than your first one) and we are already seeing the problems with shades of meaning if you try and make Te Reo a legalistic language. Make English legal, THEN look at how far and over what time period we should proceed with including Te Reo into official business and road signs...
@Helo1
Posted on 02-06-2023 14:46 | By The Professor
Well said mate!!
About time
Posted on 09-06-2023 23:02 | By k Smith
Having Bilingual signs is only confusing if you don't understand Maori /Te Reo or English. If you can read either or both what is confusing? I am well traveled and a member of an organisation of over 150 countries. I have friends all over the world including Ukraine & Russia. When they ask about NZ its nearly all about the Maori culture. It will be attractive for tourists to have Maori signs place names etc. I like the bilingual signs and there are many countries that already have them. It makes traveling more interesting.
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