Ethnic precincts using own language signs

Ethnic precincts are being created in our cities with immigrant business people using signs in their own language to peddle their wares.

A Massey researcher has studied 500 linguistic landscape photos taken at five Auckland locations and says they could cause annoyance and repugnance from English speaking Kiwis.

The locations include Northcote, Dominion Road, Meadowlands Shopping Centre in Botany, the CBD and Papatoetoe.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters agrees, saying cluttered advertising on shop frontages shows that the English language test required of immigrants isn't working.

"There should be also an English language translation as well, after all we're not trying to create 'Little China' here."

Mt Roskill Business Association president Richard Prakash says the signs do add character to an area - but this is New Zealand.

Mr Prakash says single language signs are designed to attract one culture to a shop, which is fair enough, but they should still be in English as well.

Photo: NZ Herald