New Zealand

Summary

Official Name
Population: 5,084,000
Principal Languages: English
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Besnier 1992, Campbell and King 2011, Tryon 1995, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Deaf Population: 9,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for New Zealand is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional and 3 are in trouble. Also listed are 68 unestablished languages.

Languages

Afrikaans afr: Users: 37,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Angloromani rme: Users: 1,300 in New Zealand (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Mixed language, English-Romani
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 2,980 in New Zealand (2010). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 6,700 in New Zealand (2018). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 2,730 in New Zealand (2018). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii: Users: 1,440 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Bengali ben: Users: 3,470 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Burmese mya: Users: 2,330 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Southern
Cebuano ceb: Users: 1,510 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Bisayan, Cebuan
Chinese, Hakka hak: Users: 1,220 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 95,300 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Nan nan: Users: 7,090 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Wu wuu: Users: 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Users: 52,800 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Czech ces: Users: 2,460 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Danish dan: Users: 2,340 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
Dutch nld: Users: 23,300 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Users: 4,630,000 in New Zealand, all users. L1 users: 4,480,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). L2 users: 150,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Fiji Hindi hif: Users: 26,800 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, East Central
Fijian fij: Users: 7,140 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
French fra: Users: 55,100 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 41,400 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 2,930 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Gujarati guj: Users: 22,200 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Hebrew heb: Users: 1,660 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite
Hindi hin: Users: 69,500 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Hungarian hun: Users: 1,950 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
Indonesian ind: Users: 6,280 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Irish gle: Users: 1,180 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic
Italian ita: Users: 9,900 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Japanese jpn: Users: 24,900 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic
Kannada kan: Users: 1,690 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Kannada
Khmer khm: Users: 7,550 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer
Kiribati gil: Users: 2,200 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati
Korean kor: Users: 31,300 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 38,100 (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Lao lao: Users: 1,380 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Maori mri: Far north, North Island, east coast. Users: 186,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). 100,000 understand but do not speak it (1995 Maori Language Commission); 30,000–50,000 adult speakers over 15 years old (1995). Ethnic population: 599,000 (2013 census). Total users in all countries: 197,700. Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1987, Maori Language Act, No. 176, Article 3), legal domains mostly. Alternate Names: New Zealand Maori, te reo Autonym: te reo Māori Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Marathi mar: Users: 4,770 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern
Nepali npi: Users: 3,260 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
New Zealand Sign Language nzs: Scattered. Users: 3,250 (McKee and Manning 2019), decreasing. Estimated 2,500–4,000 deaf signers, less than 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 20,200 (McKee and Manning 2015). Marked decline across all age groups since 2001 (McKee and Manning 2015, McKee and McKee 2016). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2006, New Zealand Sign Language Act, No. 18, Article 6). Alternate Names: NZSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Niue niu: Users: 4,180 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 24,000 (2013 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Niuean Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Tongic
Norwegian nor: Users: 1,250 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Bokmal
Pashto, Northern pbu: Users: 1,610 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 7,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Pitcairn-Norfolk pih: Scattered. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Norf’k, Pitcairn English Classification: Creole, English based, Pacific
Polish pol: Users: 3,110 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por: Users: 10,600 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Pukapuka pkp: Primarily in Auckland, smaller communities in Hastings, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Porirua, Shannon. Users: 1,500 in New Zealand (2016 M. Salisbury). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2016 M. Salisbury). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Pukapuka
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Users: 34,200 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Rakahanga-Manihiki rkh: Users: 2,500 in New Zealand (1981). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Rarotongan rar: Users: 7,830 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 61,000 (2013 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Cook Islands Māori Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Romanian ron: Users: 2,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 12,500 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Samoan smo: Users: 102,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Samoan
Serbo-Croatian hbs: Users: 5,350 in New Zealand (2013 census). Status: Unestablished.
Sinhala sin: Users: 7,270 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Somali som: Users: 1,240 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Spanish spa: Users: 74,700 in New Zealand, all users. L1 users: 38,800 in New Zealand (2018 census). L2 users: 35,900 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Swahili swh: Users: 1,100 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
Swedish swe: Users: 3,330 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish
Tagalog tgl: Users: 43,300 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam: Users: 10,100 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel: Users: 5,750 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Thai tha: Users: 9,070 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Tokelauan tkl: Users: 2,410 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Tokelauan
Tongan ton: Users: 35,800 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Faka Tonga Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Tongic
Turkish tur: Users: 1,480 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Tuvaluan tvl: Users: 2,900 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Ellicean
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Urdu urd: Users: 7,820 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Vietnamese vie: Users: 7,760 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
Welsh cym: Users: 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national language. 4,630,000 in New Zealand, all users. L1 users: 4,480,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). L2 users: 150,000 (Crystal 2003a).

6b (Threatened)

Maori

[mri] 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1987, Maori Language Act, No. 176, Article 3), legal domains mostly. 186,000 in New Zealand (2018 census). 100,000 understand but do not speak it (1995 Maori Language Commission); 30,000–50,000 adult speakers over 15 years old (1995). Ethnic population: 599,000 (2013 census). Total users in all countries: 197,700.

New Zealand Sign Language

[nzs] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2006, New Zealand Sign Language Act, No. 18, Article 6). 3,250 (McKee and Manning 2019), decreasing. Estimated 2,500–4,000 deaf signers, less than 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 20,200 (McKee and Manning 2015). Marked decline across all age groups since 2001 (McKee and Manning 2015, McKee and McKee 2016).

Pitcairn-Norfolk

[pih] 6b* (Threatened).

Unestablished

Afrikaans

[afr] Unestablished. 37,000 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Angloromani

[rme] Unestablished. 1,300 in New Zealand (2012 J. Leclerc).

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 2,980 in New Zealand (2010). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census).

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 6,700 in New Zealand (2018). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census).

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 2,730 in New Zealand (2018). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 12,400 (2018 census).

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

[aii] Unestablished. 1,440 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 3,470 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Burmese

[mya] Unestablished. 2,330 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Cebuano

[ceb] Unestablished. 1,510 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] Unestablished. 1,220 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 95,300 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Chinese, Min Nan

[nan] Unestablished. 7,090 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Chinese, Wu

[wuu] Unestablished. 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] Unestablished. 52,800 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Czech

[ces] Unestablished. 2,460 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Danish

[dan] Unestablished. 2,340 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Dutch

[nld] Unestablished. 23,300 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Fiji Hindi

[hif] Unestablished. 26,800 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Fijian

[fij] Unestablished. 7,140 in New Zealand (2018 census).

French

[fra] Unestablished. 55,100 in New Zealand (2018 census).

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 41,400 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 2,930 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Gujarati

[guj] Unestablished. 22,200 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Hebrew

[heb] Unestablished. 1,660 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 69,500 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Hungarian

[hun] Unestablished. 1,950 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Indonesian

[ind] Unestablished. 6,280 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Irish

[gle] Unestablished. 1,180 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 9,900 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Japanese

[jpn] Unestablished. 24,900 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Kannada

[kan] Unestablished. 1,690 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Khmer

[khm] Unestablished. 7,550 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Kiribati

[gil] Unestablished. 2,200 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 31,300 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 38,100 (2019).

Lao

[lao] Unestablished. 1,380 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Marathi

[mar] Unestablished. 4,770 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 3,260 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Niue

[niu] Unestablished. 4,180 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 24,000 (2013 census).

Norwegian

[nor] Unestablished. 1,250 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Pashto, Northern

[pbu] Unestablished. 1,610 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 7,000 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 3,110 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 10,600 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Pukapuka

[pkp] Unestablished. 1,500 in New Zealand (2016 M. Salisbury). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2016 M. Salisbury).

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] Unestablished. 34,200 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Rakahanga-Manihiki

[rkh] Unestablished. 2,500 in New Zealand (1981).

Rarotongan

[rar] Unestablished. 7,830 in New Zealand (2018 census). Ethnic population: 61,000 (2013 census).

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 2,000 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 12,500 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Samoan

[smo] Unestablished. 102,000 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Serbo-Croatian

[hbs] Unestablished. 5,350 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Sinhala

[sin] Unestablished. 7,270 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Somali

[som] Unestablished. 1,240 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 74,700 in New Zealand, all users. L1 users: 38,800 in New Zealand (2018 census). L2 users: 35,900 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).

Swahili

[swh] Unestablished. 1,100 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Swedish

[swe] Unestablished. 3,330 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 43,300 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Tamil

[tam] Unestablished. 10,100 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Telugu

[tel] Unestablished. 5,750 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Thai

[tha] Unestablished. 9,070 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Tokelauan

[tkl] Unestablished. 2,410 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Tongan

[ton] Unestablished. 35,800 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 1,480 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Tuvaluan

[tvl] Unestablished. 2,900 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Urdu

[urd] Unestablished. 7,820 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Vietnamese

[vie] Unestablished. 7,760 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Welsh

[cym] Unestablished. 1,080 in New Zealand (2018 census).

Maps

New Zealand

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in New Zealand with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for New Zealand is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in New Zealand with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for New Zealand is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for New Zealand in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

View Terms
Each Ethnologue country digest is a licensed product with restricted terms of use. Before downloading the product, you must agree to the following terms:
- This is a license for individual use. Just as with a conventionally published book, it is a violation of copyright to make a copy and give it to others.
- You may not redistribute this work in any form, including ingesting the contents into a database that is shared with others or posting it on a web site (whether public or private).
To inquire about permission for reuse or redistribution, please use the Contact Us form in the footer.
I agree to the digest terms of use.
Digest of the languages of New Zealand ($199.95, 47 page PDF)

New Zealand

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

New Zealand

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action