Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleGoogle has launched a new AI-powered voice for Maps in New Zealand, designed to accurately pronounce te reo Māori place names. The update, which began rolling out on Thursday, speaks English with a New Zealand accent while correctly articulating Māori names. Developed in collaboration with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, New Zealand’s Māori language commission, the model uses their pronunciation rules and public data. This initiative addresses years of criticism regarding Google Maps' mispronunciation of Indigenous names, which many Māori speakers found frustrating. The correct pronunciation is seen as crucial for navigation and for preserving the linguistic and cultural significance of te reo Māori, which is New Zealand's second most spoken language. In fullGoogle Maps gets better at pronouncing Māori placenames after years of complaintsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Why Google has launched a new voice for Maps in New Zealand
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleGoogle has launched a new AI-powered voice for Maps in New Zealand, designed to accurately pronounce te reo Māori place names. The update, which began rolling out on Thursday, speaks English with a New Zealand accent while correctly articulating Māori names. Developed in collaboration with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, New Zealand’s Māori language commission, the model uses their pronunciation rules and public data. This initiative addresses years of criticism regarding Google Maps' mispronunciation of Indigenous names, which many Māori speakers found frustrating. The correct pronunciation is seen as crucial for navigation and for preserving the linguistic and cultural significance of te reo Māori, which is New Zealand's second most spoken language. In fullGoogle Maps gets better at pronouncing Māori placenames after years of complaintsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
