Scam alerts: we’ve seen an increase in scam texts and emails claiming to be from us, asking for payments.
Check our example scams or report a scam to us

NZTA App: our mobile app provides a simple and secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information.
Learn more and download the NZTA app

Back to Resources

Research Note 005 Bilingual traffic signage – a research note

Published: | Category: Inclusive access , Research programme , Research & reports | Audience: General

As part of fulfilling the objectives of Te Reo Rangatira to ensure Te Reo Māori is visible, empowered, heard and spoken, Waka Kotahi is undertaking a programme of work enable and implement more Te Reo Māori on traffic signage. To assist this, the research undertook to identify international precedents for bilingual traffic signs, and to examine safety implications of bilingual signage.

Bilingual signage was found to be common internationally and while there are some implications for road safety these could be mitigated through best practice design and implementation processes.

Keywords: best-practice, bilingual, cost, cultural aspiration, cultural protection, road signs, safety, signage design, te reo Māori, traffic signage, translation

Publication details

  • Author:
  • Published: October 2021
  • Reference: 005
  • ISBN/ISSN: 2703-5654 (electronic)