[3] In easy English, please! M
Richard Mote: Bureaucracy is necessary but also loathed all over the world. One reason why is because of confusing communications, full of bureaucratic jargon and complicated language. New Zealand wants that to change. The Plain Language Act, which was recently approved by the country's parliament, requires government officials to use "plain, easily understood language when communicating with the public", according to The Guardian.
The aim of the bill is to make government processes more accessible to everyone — including those who speak English as a second language, for example. MP Rachel Boyack, of the Labour Party, said: "People living in New Zealand have a right to understand what the government is asking them to do, and what their rights are, what they're entitled to from government."
Although the new law has been criticized (by the opposition party) for creating "plain-language police", others say that clear communications help a democracy to operate more efficiently and will save the state both time and money.