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

No Plain Language Awards in 2024

We are sorry to announce that the Plain Language Awards won’t be held in 2024. But keep that plain language magic happening! We’ll be back early next year with all the info for the 2025 Awards. You’ll be able to enter anything from both this past year and the coming year, so save those entries.

Also, on the plus side, you’ve now got extra time to become a worthy contender for the Plain Language Champion — Best Organisation Award!

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with Awards news. And get in touch if you’d like to contribute to our blog or newsletter. We’d love to share your plain language success with other lovers of clarity.

Read our latest newsletter with ideas to stay connected in 2024


We’d love to hear about your experience last year

There’s still time to complete your surveys for the 2023 Awards — get in touch if you would like us to resend the link.

Email enquiries@plainlanguageawards.org.nz


Share your plain language story

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


It’s never too early to nominate

Nominations for People’s Choice categories are open all year round. So if you’ve seen a great example of plain language out there in the wild, or even a gnarly one, let us know!

Make a nomination for a People’s Choice award


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


Let’s keep in touch

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news

Catch up on past newsletters

Read our blog posts

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