Plain Language Awards

Celebrate the stories of our clearest business communicators

2021 Awards

Congratulations to all winners and finalists in the
2021 Plain English Awards!


We announced our plain language champions for 2021 at our first-ever online Awards ceremony on 14 October, joined by people from around the world.

Scroll down for the full list of winners and finalists, with links to their media statements and the judges’ comments on their entries.

2021 Awards in the media

2021 Awards judges

2021 Awards entrants

2021 Awards categories

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And the winners are...

Congratulations to our 2021 plain language heroes


Plain English Champion — Best Organisation 2021

Winner: Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand

Finalist: Legalite


Plain English Champion — Best Individual or Team 2021

Winner: Lauren Kelindeman, Legalite

Finalist: thinkstep-anz team

Finalist: Gretchen Rasch, Cawthron Institute


Best Plain English Document — Public Sector 2021

Winner: Health Navigator NZ

Finalist: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Finalist: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: Leading Lights

Finalist: Dunedin City Council


Best Plain English Document — Private Sector 2021

Winner: Ryman Healthcare

Finalist: Summer KiwiSaver Scheme

Finalist: Litmus and Alzheimers NZ


Best Plain English Sentence Transformation 2021

Winner: Auckland Council


Best Plain English Technical Communicator 2021

Winner: thinkstep-anz team


Best Plain English Turnaround 2021

Winner: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Finalist: Accuro Health Insurance


Best Plain English Annual Report 2021

Winner: National Trauma Network

Finalist: Ministry for Primary Industries

Finalist: Domain Name Commission


People’s Choice — Best Plain English Communication 2021

Winner: Kiwibank

Finalist: Masterton District Council

Finalist: Kiwi Wealth