Plain Language Awards

Celebrate the stories of our clearest business communicators

The Plain English Awards
The Plain English Awards

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

The Plain Language Awards are proving to be the most exciting year yet!

Communication is the bedrock of society, so let’s make it as inclusive as possible.


Thank you for joining us at Parliament!

Thank you to everyone who came along to the ceremony. What a buzz! People had clearly been missing the in-person atmosphere, and it was great to see so many familiar faces — and plenty of new ones too.


The photos are here!

Thanks again to our wonderful photographer, Crystal Richardson, who captured some great shots of the night!

Check out the 2023 ceremony photos


Drumroll please … announcing our 2023 Plain Language Awards winners!

Our plain language experts from around the world worked tirelessly to review and score this year’s entries, on the lookout for sparkling clarity and pristine presentation.

And now we’re excited to announce our 2023 winners! Follow the link below to see who shone out from the crowd.

See the 2023 Awards winners


Sharing your plain language stories

Do you have a story to share about your passion for plain language? Or maybe about a project you’re currently working on? We love to hear your stories, so our gallery is open year-round for you to upload your videos. Let’s share the love and celebrate your hard work!

Share your plain language story

View stories of plain language in our gallery


Let’s keep in touch

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Catch up on past newsletters

Read our blog posts


Interested in sponsoring the Plain Language Awards or have a question about entering?

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 2023 plain language heroes


Plain Language Champion — Best Organisation

Winner: thinkstep-anz


Plain Language Champion — Best Individual or Team

Winner: Talking Trouble Aotearoa NZ team

Finalist: Digital and Customer Experience Team, Auckland Council


Best Plain Language Document — Private Sector

Winner: AA Insurance

Finalist: Simplicity NZ Ltd

Finalist: Stronger Schools, Streamliners


Best Plain Language Website — Public Sector

Winner: Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand

Finalist: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)


Best Plain Language Website — Private Sector

Winner: Banked

Finalist: Litmus


Best Plain Language Sentence Transformation

Winner: Kate Sumner, Auckland Council

Finalist: Kate Sumner, Auckland Council

Finalist: Michel Mathew, Auckland Council


Best Plain Language Technical Communicator

Winner: Helen Bradford, Capire

Finalist: Mercedes Glover, Fusion5

Finalist: Sarah Bichan, Streamliners


People’s Choice — Best Plain Language Communication

Winner: Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand

Finalist: Cogo

Finalist: Powershop