The New Zealand Plain English Awards
We outline the benefits, costs and process for entering the Plain English Awards
Updated 16 March 2022
Important: Entries to the Plain English Awards usually open around April-May each year.
Summary of the Plain English Awards
Summary of the Plain English Awards
- The annual awards aim to improve government and business documents so that all New Zealanders can understand them
- Entries cost around $165, but deliver a detailed review by the judges in a multiple-page PDF that lets organisations enhance and simplify their documents after the winners are announced.
- Organisations delivering contracts, forms, policy documents, annual reports and general guides are well-suited to the awards, with multiple categories covering an array of industries and specialisations.
- Businesses and organisations associated with the Plain English Awards are some of the most trusted and respected in New Zealand, with sponsors such as the Consumer Institute, NZ SuperFund and MoneyHub, and past winners and finalists including Xero, Simplicity KiwiSaver and Air New Zealand.
Our guide covers:
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What is Plain English?
Plain English is a style of writing in which the language, structure, and presentation of a document all work together to help the reader. A document written in plain English is easy to read, understand, and act on after just one reading.
What is the benefit of Plain English?
Plain English allows people to participate in government, commercial, legal, and leisure activities more effectively because they can understand the information presented to them. Plain English also has proven benefits for organisations that use it in their publications — including significant cost savings.
Why do the Plain English Awards exist?
Plain English is a style of writing in which the language, structure, and presentation of a document all work together to help the reader. A document written in plain English is easy to read, understand, and act on after just one reading.
What is the benefit of Plain English?
Plain English allows people to participate in government, commercial, legal, and leisure activities more effectively because they can understand the information presented to them. Plain English also has proven benefits for organisations that use it in their publications — including significant cost savings.
Why do the Plain English Awards exist?
- Improve government and business documents so that all New Zealanders can understand them
- Raise public awareness of the need for, and benefits of, plain English
- Create a public preference for organisations that choose to communicate in plain English.
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8 Benefits of the Plain English Awards for your organisation
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ANY business can enter, and it will get you thinking about how your public-facing documents readThe Plain English Awards celebrate "New Zealand’s clearest communicators". The general public face a world of long, convoluted documents and confusing documents, websites and forms. For example:
The Plain English Awards encourages and awards simplification. No matter what your business is, customers, clients and leads all WANT Plain English language which is clear. If your existing inventory of documents is, by your own admission, something that needs to be 'worked on', entering the Plain English Awards can at least prioritise the simplification. Best of all, the feedback received for each entry (see below) is so extensive that it can be applied to other documents. In no uncertain terms, the Plain English Awards is one of the best services any public-facing can sign up to, with immediate benefits for everyone involved. |
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The entry price is nominal, but the benefits are extensiveIn 2021, the price per entry was around $165. While this seems high, for the benefits received such as extensive feedback and the trust gained from clients and the general public, MoneyHub's view is that the cost is underpriced.
Additionally, the People's Choice Award categories are free-to-enter, but unlike the main categories, organisations cannot nominate themselves and will need to ask an unrelated individual or organisation. And, if your organisation wins, the trophy is one of the most aesthetically striking awards, designed by a local Wellington artist. |
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The team behind the Plain English Awards really care about what they doThe movement to replace ‘gobbledygook’ in official and business documents with plain English began in Britain in the 1970s. The plain English movement now involves government agencies, public- and private-sector businesses, corporations, consultants, voluntary organisations, and networking groups throughout the world.
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There are a range of categories, and you can enter in more than oneWhile 2018's lineup is no guarantee of future award categories, awards were given for the following areas of documents:
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Finalists and winners can use the Plain English Awards badge free of chargeUnlike a myriad of other award programs where finalists and winners 'licence' the use of a badge or even the mention of a nomination, the Plain English Awards permits you full use of their branding free of charge. This means if you are a finalist, you can use it on your organisation's website, email footer, documents and marketing materials.
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The feedback received from an entry applies to ALL plain English writingIn 2018, when MoneyHub entered for 'best website - private sector', the experience we had exceeded all expectations. While we ultimately came runner up to Xero, the judging process meant we received a 7-page.
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Businesses and organisations associated with the Plain English Awards are some of the most trusted and respected in New ZealandThe Plain English Awards have attracted some of the most forward-thinking and trusting organisations in New Zealand. Winners in 2018 and 2017 included the Wellington City Council (Best Plain English Communication) and Tower Insurance (Best Plain English Document). Yet many more are involved, both as long-term sponsors and as entrants. These include:
Sponsors include:
Past winners and finalists include:
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Sponsoring the awards is affordable, and the organisation runs as a zero-profit entityThe Plain English Awards is not a for-profit awards scheme, relying on benefits-in-kind from professionals to review and articulate improvement areas for entries of all form and substance.
Ultimately, the nominal entry fees do not cover the costs of running the Plain English Awards, so the organisation offers a range of sponsorship opportunities which for most businesses will be very affordable. |
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Interested in the Plain English Awards for your business? Make the next move now
- Enter the awards - generally, entries are accepted from June until the end of August every year.
- Not ready but want to know more? Visit the Plain English Awards website, or sign up to their newsletter.
Disclaimer: MoneyHub is a sponsor of the Plain English Awards and is committed to encouraging the use of Plain English in its publications (guides, tools and reports) and among the financial services sector (with a focus on insurers, banks, legal, utilities and investment companies).
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