Te Reo On Road Signs - a beautiful thing

How Aotearoa Embraced Bilingual Signs and Drove Forward Together

In a rare twist of political fate, the New Zealand Government did something shocking in 2025, they stuck to a plan that was inclusive, future-focused and most shocking of all, popular.

Despite the usual grumblings from certain corners of talkback radio, Ministers decided not to quietly shelve the Bilingual Road Sign Programme. Instead, they doubled down. Because sometimes, the right thing and the smart thing are the same thing.

And so, with little fanfare and much aroha, the rollout began.

“Haere Mai / Welcome” signs now greet visitors from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Children point them out proudly on road trips. Tourists learn their first words of te reo before they even hit the motels. And drivers? They adjusted just fine, turns out recognising both languages isn’t harder. It’s just richer.

Minister Simeon Brown surprised many by fronting the launch in Rotorua, standing alongside iwi leaders and local school kids holding bilingual placards. “This isn’t about rewriting the road,” he said. “It’s about recognising who travels it.”

The social dividend? Quietly enormous. Surveys found that 82% of Kiwis felt prouder of their national identity seeing bilingual signs. Māori communities felt seen. And teachers nationwide rejoiced at finally having real-world te reo examples for their classrooms.

It wasn’t just symbolism. It was direction and it said - this country isn’t afraid of two languages. It’s enriched by them.

Let the signs speak for us, and let them speak in full voice.

🎉 Government Media Release

“Driving Unity: Government Celebrates Nationwide Rollout of Bilingual Road Signs”

Press Release – Ministry of Transport | Te Manatū Waka

The Government today celebrated a milestone in Aotearoa’s bicultural journey, with the full nationwide implementation of bilingual road signage across State Highway and local transport networks.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the programme reflects a practical and powerful expression of New Zealand’s identity.

“These signs do more than guide us - they reflect us,” said Minister Brown. “Te reo Māori is an official language of this land and our roads should reflect that truth. This initiative strengthens public safety, cultural pride and national cohesion.”

In partnership with iwi, schools and local councils, over 400 signs have already been installed, with thousands more planned. The programme is also supporting local sign manufacturers and language educators through targeted funding.

As part of the next stage, the Government will invest in a multilingual public transport trial, bringing more languages to buses, trains and ferries.

“New Zealand’s roads are more than tarmac,” Brown concluded. “They’re pathways to who we are becoming.”

 ✉️ Letter to the Editor — From a Māori Language Teacher

Tēnā koe, Editor,

Every morning on the way to kura, my students now see signs that greet them in our language. “Haere Mai.” “Ōtautahi.” “Aukati.” Words that mean something to them. Words that tell them they are home.

This might seem like a small win in a world of big problems, but I can’t overstate what this means to the tamariki. Suddenly, te reo isn’t something confined to the classroom or the pānui on the marae wall. It’s there on the motorway. It’s part of the everyday and that’s where it belongs.

This Government didn’t just leave the signs in place - they made them stand for something.

We are not losing anything by embracing two languages. We are finding each other.

Kia kaha te reo Māori.

Nāku iti noa, nā,

Mereana Whaanga

Kaiako Reo Māori, Gisborne

✉️ Letter to the Editor  -  From a Pākehā Parent

Dear Editor,

I’m a dad from Nelson. My five-year-old son just asked me why all the new signs “speak two ways.” I told him it’s because this country is built on two peoples, two languages and one big story we’re learning to tell together.

He said, “That’s cool,” and went back to his sandwich and that’s the point. This isn’t a controversy for most of us, it’s a comfort. It feels right. Like we’re finally doing something gentle and good.

So thank you to everyone who pushed for this. To the translators, the designers, the community leaders. And yes, to the politicians who, for once, didn’t cave to fear.

Let’s keep going.

- Tom S., Nelson