Statistics New Zealand is a champion at making complex, technical information clear to ordinary New Zealanders - and that's why it's won the coveted Best Organisation Award in this year's Plain English Awards.

The Awards, run by the WriteMark Plain English Awards Trust, put the spotlight on how well information from the public and private sector communicates to the people who need it.

Statistics New Zealand has made an "impressive and tenacious" effort to promote plain English at all levels of its organisation, the Awards' international judging panel found.

"Statistics are challenging to simplify", says the Awards founder and CEO of Write Limited, Lynda Harris. "But Statistics NZ understands that when its information is complex, it’s even more important that it is communicated to the public clearly."

Statistics NZ has shown commitment to plain English at every level of the organisation, and the clarity of its information has improved hugely as a result.

"Statistics NZ is well on the way to having plain English embedded throughout the organisation, and that makes it a worthy winner of the top Plain English Award", says Lynda Harris.

Capital and Coast DHB is a Brainstrain winner
One of the Awards that receives the most attention is the People's Choice Brainstrain Award. Members of the public nominate written information they have found difficult and confusing to read. This year, the dubious award of worst Brainstrain document goes to Capital and Coast District Health Board, for an information letter sent to a patient.

The judges found that the two-page letter was "a terrible muddle", and would be confusing for anyone whose vision may not be good. The elderly person who received the letter was so confused by it, she had to call her son to explain it to her.

Last year's Brainstrain winner is now a finalist for Best Plain English Organisation
The winner of the Brainstrain category last year, the Commerce Commission, took up the challenge of improving its communications, and has made a major turn-around. This year, the Commerce Commission was a finalist in the 'Best Organisation' category.

"The Commerce Commission has made great strides since last year. It used last year's booby prize as a spur to action, and it has embraced plain English with fervour" says Gregory Fortuin, Chair of the WriteMark Plain English Awards Trust. "That’s why these Awards are so worthwhile—they really do make a difference, by turning the spotlight on how well organisations are communicating with the people they need to reach."

UDC and AMP win new Best Plain English Financial Document category
A new category, Best Plain English Financial Document, was included in the Plain English Awards for the first time this year.

"In the troubled world economy, it is vital that people be able to clearly understand financial information that affects them", says Gregory Fortuin. "It was good to see the commitment to clear communications from those who enteredthough, in general, the financial sector still has room to improve."

UDC Finance won the Investment Statement award with its UDC Secured Investments Prospectus 22 December 2010. AMP Services won the General Financial Document award, with Build and Manage Wealth on Your Terms with AMP Wealth View.

Other big winners in the WriteMark Plain English Awards are the Cancer Society, ACC, the Ministry of Social Development, Careers NZ, Contact Energy, the Department of Conservation, and Optimal Usability.

People's Choice 'Best' Awards won by Elections New Zealand and Kiwibank
Members of the public nominate information they find clear and fit for purpose. This year, the Best Plain English Document Award has been won by Elections New Zealand for its Enrolment Form. The judges found the form to be "very clear" and "well suited to its audience". Kiwibank took the award for Best Plain English Website, with the judges deciding it was "the clear winner in this People’s Choice category".

For a full list of the WriteMark Plain English Awards winners and the judges' comments, go to www.plainenglishawards.org.nz.

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