Immigrants to NZ should be required to learn English?


On average, everyone strongly agrees with consensus between 407 voters.

Disagree
 
Agree

Please read the comments from other voters below, then scroll down make your decision. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Immigrants to NZ should be required to learn English

You need to register a voting profile or login before you can vote.


Reasons To Disagree

The Maori language is also an official language of NZ, this is what immigrants should be learning.

20 November 2005

It would make wee parts of ours lives easier but I don't thing that its should be required. I work in customer service and I get countless numbers of customers who can barely speak english. It's a little bit inconvenient but i don't have a problem with it. It would be arrogant to expect that from people. How about a rule prohibiting New Zealanders from visiting countries where they don't know the languages? I know of plenty of Kiwis who move overseas and don't know the native languages.

29 June 2009

If they just stay where they are they don't need study

14 September 2016

 

Reasons To Agree

They should have basic English skills BEFORE entering the country, and increased proficiency (written and verbal) essential if they wish to continue to stay. If they wish to come here, they have a duty to try to integrate themselves with society, and society speaks English

13 August 2005

We are an english speaking country. It is not our place to change to accommodate those new to our society but to help them integrate.

29 November 2005

Immigrants need to be able to speak fluent English to participate in society. Sadly, many New Zealanders don't have adequate literacy and reasoning skills as it is!

30 January 2006

English and Maori, as the official languages. this is standard in most countries' immigration policies.

20 April 2006

why they move in there ?

17 May 2006

obviously

20 September 2006

While I value the cultural and social significance of Maori, English is the factual ubiquitous language in our society. Immigrants should be encouraged instead to learn Maori on volunteer basis.

13 June 2007

As English is the vastly socially accepted language in this nation for day-to-day living, a basic understanding in English communication is essential. Not just for English speakers here, but for foreigners seeking to move here. It's about quality of life. We've settled on a main language. That's English. Not Mandarin, Cantonese or Arabic. However, the official language is Maori, yet we don't require that as a prerequisite because it's hardly spoken anywhere else. When in Rome...but also, when a refugee who seeks shelter, New Zealanders need to be more tolerant. They don't CHOOSE to come here. They are desperate to survive. Cut them some slack. Try learning a foreign language and see that it's not that easy and English is a hard language to master.

22 June 2007

New Zealand has 3 official languages and the main one is English, immigrants must know and be able to converese in English before coming here. I came here from the US in 1995 knowing enough English for a 9 year old and I got by just fine.

13 January 2008

Definatly! dont come to our country and not understand our language. They think because they have money they can take over!

31 January 2008

we dont need any more "bums" or people on the doll,expecially if they are not from thuis country.they are not going to go far and be able to support themselves if they cant speak part english,they need those skills

12 May 2008

ahhh...yes!!!

1 June 2008

I can imagine Chinese people learning Maori instead of English. That's going to really help them fit in with the majority populace. The only places they'd be able to fit in would be in the health or welfare system where the majority of that populace is connected with maoridom.

17 July 2009

Its our National language and they should be able to speak and write it

13 June 2011

I agree because it makes life easier for Migrants when they arrive, as the day to day challenges of adapting to a new set of social rules and expectations will be difficult enough. It may also be easier to be accepted by New Zealanders who are able to understand them, and can offer help without a language barrier. For Refugee's I think they need support to learn enough language as quickly as they can in order to meet their day to day needs for survival.

1 April 2012

Its is the one languge that most people understand.

16 August 2012

Depending on the category of the immigrants.

16 October 2012

and NZ citizens shoukd be required to learn Maori.

2 December 2012

Whether it is Maori or English, that doesn't matter. What they need to know is the English not speak Chinese and not be integrated into NZ society. They should be

17 August 2014

Maori no but basic English yes if your gonna live here you have to be able to communicate effectively

27 March 2016

What I hate most is going to the shops and finding the cashier having to struggle to understand one of the customers because they have no English at all. What is the point of moving to a country if you don't even want to learn the bloody language? What i hate is going around my church and there are large groups of Asians only hanging around with asians because they haven't bothered to learn English, and they come here without learning the language because their friends and family tell them that they don't need it here because there are many Asian food stores or stores with asian workers that speak their mother tongue.

21 May 2017

Reasons for Remain Neutral

We shouldnt allow any immigrants or refugees into NZ unless they speak english. Why wait until they get here to impose this requirement, why not impose it before they get here and make a test one of the entry conditions?

24 April 2006

Both official languages (English and Maori) should be the requirement for entry into our country. No ums! no buts!

11 December 2006

My View

You can make your comments once you have voted.

You need to register a voting profile or login before you can vote.

Back to all voting categories or
Back to "Immigration"

This website is sponsored by Website World. Click here to find out more.