How many official dialects are there in New Zealand?

Answer 1

The first answerer is correct, Maori and English are the two official languages of New Zealand recognised under New Zealand legislation. However, dialectal variations of each language are not officially recognised. Maori is considered to be one language with numerous dialectal variations throughout the country. English, although varying worldwide in dialect, (Australian English or American English for example) is still considered internationally as one language. In New Zealand, equal value is placed upon the two languages, and legal proceedings can be administered in either language or both. Most official proceedings are introduced in both languages, often in Maori first. New Zealand government websites have content in both languages. It's quite an interesting situation, language-wise.
Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Hi - just a small correction to the above answers. There are actually three official languages in New Zealand. They are English, Maori and the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). The NZSL was added after receiving parliamentary approval on April, 6th 2006 and Royal Ascent on April, 10th 2006.

As regards dialects, the following is from the Te-ara (NZ encyclopaedia) website:

quote
It is a question whether regional dialects will develop in New Zealand. What has happened in the U.S. may again serve as a pointer for New Zealand. But the small size of the country and the excellent and ever-improving means of communication within it, make the comparison appear rather dubious. There are, however, certain areas of the country which are so definitely isolated by nature as to encourage regional pronunciations to develop. Such areas are the West Coast of the South Island, Northland, the King Country, and Banks Peninsula. There are indeed at present certain idioms which are peculiar to certain districts. For example, on the West Coast of the South Island people say the boy of Smith instead of “the boy Smith” or “the Smiths' boy” and this, which seems to be a purely local development, is also said to be used in Lyttelton, introduced by workers from “The Coast”. In Otago, too, people say whenever for “when” and a few other such Scotticisms are observed, but these are rather in the nature of vestigial remnants of traditional idioms of the old land than signs of any new provincial speech. Some slang terms seem to be peculiar to certain districts. An example is the Auckland term up the Puhoi or Boohoy (its form varies a good deal) meaning “gone somewhere or other” and this is a genuine local product referring to an old German settlement on the coast north of Auckland and little, if at all, in use elsewhere in New Zealand. These are but trifling variants from standard speech and anything like the dialects of mediaeval England is out of the question.
unquote

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

English and Maori are New Zealand's 2 official languages.

Answer 5

62

Answer 6

34 official , and 28 unofficial