Plain English Awards

celebrate New Zealand's clearest communicators

2006 Awards and Conference

The 2006 WriteMark Plain English Conference and Awards were all about raising awareness that plain English is good for business, essential for democracy, and makes sound economic sense


Delegates at the 2006 Plain English Conference enjoyed a full day that included:

  • a sit-down conference breakfast with keynote speaker Duncan Sarkies
  • four keynote addresses
  • twelve workshops
  • a glamorous 2006 WriteMark Awards dinner with MC Kevin Milne and keynote speaker Amanda Millar

And the winners are...

Congratulations to our 2006 plain English heroes


Plain English Champion — Best Organisation

Winner: A J Park

Finalist: Castalia

Finalist: Department of Building and Housing


Plain English Champion — Best Individual

Winner: Tanya Piejus, Department of Building and Housing

Finalist: Cathy Swanson, Inland Revenue Department

Finalist: Prue Bentley, Environment Bay of Plenty


Best Plain English Document — Public Sector

Winner: Ministry of Fisheries — The State of Our Fisheries: Annual Summary 2006

Finalist: Broadcasting Standards Authority — South Park decision

Finalist: Queenstown Lakes District Council — Wanaka–Get it Sorted


Best Plain English Document — Private Sector

Winner: Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand — About Antibiotics

Finalist: Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand — Sun Safety Handbook

Finalist: AA Life — It’s not easy keeping pace with life’s changes


People’s Choice — Best Plain English Document

Winner: Greater Wellington Regional Council — How to recognise and dispose of pest plants

Finalist: Families Commission — Moving closer to a violence-free society

Finalist: Kiwibank — Get your banking into shape


Best Plain English Website

Winner: Wellington City Council — www.wellington.govt.nz

Finalist: Department of Building and Housing — www.dbh.govt.nz

Finalist: Retirement Commission — www.sorted.org.nz


People’s Choice — Worst ‘Brainstrain’ Document

Winner: StudyLink (part of the Ministry of Social Development) — Loan schedule

Finalist: Australian New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority Joint Agency Establishment Group —Description of the Joint Regulatory Scheme for the Advertising for Therapeutic Products

Finalist: Sky — Television Service Agreement