The Plain Language Act is dead! Long live plain language?

The Plain Language Act is dead! Long live plain language?
Public Service Minister Judith Collins is crushing a much-ridiculed law. (Image: NZME)
Ian Llewellyn
The Government is repealing the Plain Language Act 2022 after National and Act MPs mocked its passage into law in the last Parliament.Public Services Minister Judith Collins introduced the repeal bill last week without fanfare.The Plain Language Act Repeal Bill’s explanatory note said it would “remove the compliance-based administrative requirements the act places on public service agencies”.The law currently requires government agencies to use plain language in documents and appoint plain language officers.The Public Service...

More Law & Regulation

Airports, Jetstar bite back at Air NZ subsidy claim
Markets

Airports, Jetstar bite back at Air NZ subsidy claim

Air NZ is effectively saying 'get what you're given', says Auckland Airport.

Pattrick Smellie 27 Nov 2025
ComCom sets out price path for gas networks
Infrastructure

ComCom sets out price path for gas networks

Auckland bills will rise about $4 per month.

Ian Llewellyn 27 Nov 2025
Northland outage: Class action law suit launched against Transpower over felled pylon
Infrastructure

Northland outage: Class action law suit launched against Transpower over felled pylon

A class action has been filed against national power grid operator Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor, Omexom, over the June last year outage that left much of Northland without power for days.The class action seeks to recover losses on behalf of all Northland busine...

Staff reporters 27 Nov 2025
Air NZ to airports: Stop subsidising Jetstar
Markets

Air NZ to airports: Stop subsidising Jetstar

Current airport regulation works against the national interest, Air NZ’s new CEO says.

Pattrick Smellie 27 Nov 2025