Plain Language Awards

Celebrate the stories of our clearest business communicators

2022 Awards

Celebrating our winners and honouring their achievements!

A line-up of the best for 2022 | Photo by Jess O’Brien Photographer


We announced our plain language champions for 2022 at our Awards ceremony on 27 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.

Watch the 2022 Plain Language Awards ceremony on our YouTube channel

2022 Awards in the media

2022 Awards photos

2022 Awards judges

2022 Awards finalists and shortlists

2022 Awards categories

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And the winners are...

Congratulations to our 2022 plain language heroes


People’s Choice — Worst Brainstrain Communication 2022

Winner: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: Internal Affairs | Births, Deaths and Marriages


People’s Choice — Best Plain Language Communication 2022

Winner: Wellington City Council

Finalist: Inland Revenue

Finalist: Aurecon

Finalist: Sawmill Brewery


Best Plain Language Legal Document 2022

Winner: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: AA Insurance

Finalist: The Energy Collective


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 Technical Communicator 2022

Winner: Communications and Creative Team, thinkstep-anz

Finalist: Helen Bradford, Capire


Best Plain Language Sentence Transformation 2022

Winner: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)

Finalist: Medical Assurance Society (MAS)


Best Plain Language Website — Private Sector 2022

Winner: Mercer (N.Z.) Limited

Finalist: MoneyHub Group Limited


Best Plain Language Website — Public Sector 2022

Winner: Ministry of Social Development

Finalist: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Finalist: Auckland Council


Best Plain Language Document — Private Sector 2022

Winner: thinkstep-anz


Best Plain Language Document — Public Sector 2022

Winner: WorkSafe

Finalist: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Finalist: Health Quality & Safety Commission


Plain Language Champion — Best Organisation 2022

Winner: AA Insurance

Finalist: National Capital