Google has launched a New Zealand-accented voice for its Maps navigation tool that correctly pronounces Māori words, ending years of mispronunciation that many found grating or offensive. The feature is the result of a collaboration with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori language commission, and represents a significant step in normalising te reo Māori.
Correcting mispronounced placenames
For years, Māori placenames were distorted by Google Maps, often becoming nearly unrecognisable. The new voice, developed with input from the commission, ensures accurate pronunciation of cities, towns, and selected street names. Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, chief executive of the commission, said hearing placenames pronounced correctly “just spoke directly to my heart.” He added, “When everybody who is learning te reo Māori, or who speaks the language, hears those placenames being used, their language journey is being supported.”
Resurgence of te reo Māori
Te reo Māori has seen a major resurgence in New Zealand over the past decade, despite government policies that limit its use in the public service. According to the 2023 census, Māori is the second most widely spoken language in the country, after English, with a 15% increase in speakers between 2018 and 2023. Apanui-Barr described the Google Maps project as “the future of my language” and a foundation for proper pronunciation.
How the project works
The initiative began in 2017 when Google and telecommunications company Vodafone (now One NZ) launched a campaign, supported by the commission, asking the public to identify frequently mispronounced Māori names. Over 60,000 corrections were submitted, but technological hurdles delayed implementation. Advances in AI text-to-speech models, combined with data from the commission and the New Zealand Geographic Board, enabled the launch. A voice actor recorded a large script of te reo Māori sounds to feed the model. The commission retains guardianship of the data to ensure Māori academics, researchers, and communities can access the lexicon.
Caroline Rainsford from Google New Zealand said technology plays an important role in the use and advancement of te reo Māori. She expressed pride that New Zealanders will now hear “a Kiwi voice” during navigation with “really incredible pronunciation of our very sacred placenames.”
Expansion and global impact
The launch prioritises cities, towns, and certain street names, with plans to expand into more roads and regions. Similar projects are underway in Australia and the US, with several other countries on a waitlist for voice capture of their Indigenous languages. Apanui-Barr noted the collaboration as an example of a public organisation working effectively with a private company.
