Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — "The English Language Bill, it doesn't give English protection because it doesn't need it." The English Language Bill — which is just two pages long — states English "has long been a de facto official language in New Zealand, that is, widely used and accepted as an official language, but its official language status is not set out in legislation". Barbour said the English Language Bill needed to be understood within that wider history. "It's problematic because it's so unnecessary, and it makes people think that it is necessary," she said, referencing Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori the Māori Language Act which recognized te reo Māori as an official language and taonga (cultural treasure). Prior to the law, English was recognized as the official language of the government with the Samoan language mainly used in daily lives, including ceremonial events.