Plain Language Awards

Celebrate the stories of our clearest business communicators

The Plain English Awards
The Plain English Awards

Let’s celebrate Australia and New Zealand’s clearest communicators

The Plain Language Awards continue to shine a light on the excellence, passion, and innovation of people who work hard to improve the world through clear communication. 

Clear business communication makes a real difference in people’s lives. 


Were live!

Read about entering the 2023 Plain Language Awards on our blog

If you are keen to take part in this year’s Awards, here are some key dates to put in your diary:

  • Entries open on 1 May
  • Entries close on 31 July
  • Awards ceremony on 26 October

Find out how to enter the Awards and check out the categories


Last years online Awards ceremony was a hit!

MC James Elliott and co-host Thomas McGrath ran the 27 October online ceremony like clockwork, with plain language banter the order of the day. Thanks too to all the winners who came with their stories to tell as they accepted their awards.

Meet the winners and watch the video of the ceremony


Sharing your plain language stories

You’re invited to share a video telling the story behind your document, project, or passion. Let’s highlight why clarity matters to you, and the work you’ve done to achieve it. We’ll showcase your stories in our gallery so that together we can inspire, challenge, and enlighten others. The gallery is open all year round.

Share your plain language story

View stories of plain language in our gallery


Let’s keep in touch

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news

Catch up on past newsletters

Read our blog posts


Interested in sponsoring the Plain Language Awards or joining the team?

We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at enquiries@plainlanguageawards.org.nz

Get involved with our People’s Choice awards


Best Award

The Best Communication award honours an outstanding example of a plain language document or webpage nominated by a member of the public

Find out more


Brainstrain

The Brainstrain award reveals, in good humour, the document or webpage most notable for confusing and dumbfounding its target audience

Find out more

You beauties

Congratulations to our 2022 plain language heroes


Plain Language Champion — Best Organisation 2022

Winner: AA Insurance

Finalist: National Capital


Best Plain Language Document — Public Sector 2022

Winner: WorkSafe

Finalist: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Finalist: Health Quality & Safety Commission


Best Plain Language Document — Private Sector 2022

Winner: thinkstep-anz


Best Plain Language Website — Public Sector 2022

Winner: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Finalist: Auckland Council


Best Plain Language Website — Private Sector 2022

Winner: Mercer (N.Z.) Limited

Finalist: MoneyHub Group Limited


Best Plain Language Sentence Transformation 2022

Winner: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)


Best Plain Language Technical Communicator 2022

Winner: Communications and Creative Team, thinkstep-anz

Finalist: Helen Bradford, Capire


Best Plain Language Annual Report 2022

Winner: thinkstep-anz

Finalist: Xero Limited

Finalist: Mercer (N.Z.) Limited

Finalist: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council


Best Plain Language Legal Document 2022

Winner: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: AA Insurance

Finalist: The Energy Collective


People’s Choice — Best Plain Language Communication 2022

Winner: Wellington City Council

Finalist: Inland Revenue

Finalist: Aurecon

Finalist: Sawmill Brewery


People’s Choice — Worst Brainstrain Communication 2022

Winner: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: Internal Affairs | Births, Deaths and Marriages