‘This bill is bullshit’: Fiery scenes as politicians debate English becoming official language

Friday, 20 February 2026

In a fiery speech, Chlöe Swarbrick accuses the Government of manufacturing fear and division around Māori identity and language, comparing its tactics to those used by Donald Trump and urging focus on real-life issues.

A parliamentary debate over legislation aiming to make English an official language was always going to be fiery.

The bill, introduced by New Zealand First, had its first reading in Parliament on Thursday.

It got this far as part of the coalition negotiation between National and New Zealand First, in addition to the requirement all public service departments having changed their primary names to English, except for those specifically related to Māori, and communicate primarily in English - again, except for those specifically related to Māori.

NZ First leader Winston Peters took the first call on the bill in the House.

“English has long been the predominant language of government, education, people with brains, commerce and daily life in New Zealand,” he proclaimed.

Winston Peters delivered a forceful speech at Waitangi, reflecting on decades of political history, speaking rights on the marae, and what he sees as misguided modern interpretations. Peters urged respect for the occasion and tradition.

“It is spoken by around 95% of the population. It has never been formally recognised in statute as an official language. This bill seeks to correct that anomaly.”

The debate was tense from the get go. Peters faced interjections from opposition benches.

“The purpose of an introductory speech is that some ignoramuses like you might learn something,” he said.

He argued the speech didn’t diminish other official languages - New Zealand Sign Language and Te Reo Maori - but affirms that New Zealand has three official languages.

Peters said the increased use of Maori language had “created situations of misunderstanding and confusion - and all for the purpose to push a narrative.”

He likened the proliferation of Te Reo Māori to the “dangerous and nonsensical totalitarianism” of the old Soviet Union and referred to a member of Parliament as a “pinko” communist.

Green co-leader Chloe Swarbrick did not mince words in her rebuttal of Peters argument.

“In plain English for all members of this government, this bill is bullshit, and you know it.”

Swarbrick said the bill was an answer to a problem that didn’t exist.

“Some out there say that this government is stupid, unfortunately… I think that they know exactly what they are doing.

“The English language is not under threat we are literally speaking and debating in it right now.

She said the government was trying to “invent an oppression”.

“If you’re wondering how Trump’s America happened its actually through tactics like this. Trump has done exactly this so recently through an executive order,” she said.

Many coalition MPs took very short calls on the matter, only standing to say they supported the bill in a short sentence.

National MP Rima Nakhle took exception to the language used by Swarbrick.

“How about having some respect and not using words like bull s-h-i-t“

Nakhle told the opposition to calm down the “theatrics”.

“It’s OK. We’re only making English official, it’s not the end of the world.”