Google Maps launches New Zealand voice that correctly pronounces Māori placenames

Google Maps Introduces New Zealand-Accented Voice for Māori Placenames

Google Maps has launched a groundbreaking update that finally addresses years of mispronounced Māori placenames across New Zealand. The new feature, developed through a partnership between Google and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), introduces a New Zealand-accented voice capable of accurately pronouncing te reo Māori words within English navigation instructions 1

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. For language learners and speakers alike, hearing placenames distorted into nearly unrecognizable sounds has been grating, sometimes offensive. The technology now ensures New Zealanders hear "a Kiwi voice" during navigation that respects the sacred nature of these names 1

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Years-Long Collaboration Achieves Language Preservation Milestone

The journey to correctly pronounce Māori placenames began in 2017 when Google, telecommunications company Vodafone (now One NZ), and the Māori Language Commission launched a campaign asking the public to identify mispronounced names. More than 60,000 corrections were submitted, but technological hurdles delayed implementation 1

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. Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri, told the Guardian he "giggled with glee" when he first heard the placenames pronounced properly, noting it "spoke directly to my heart." This excitement reflects the broader significance for language preservation in digital spaces 1

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AI Text-to-Speech Models Enable Breakthrough in Localization

Advancements in AI text-to-speech models have been critical to getting this project off the ground, according to Caroline Rainsford, Country Director of Google New Zealand. The model operates in English but draws on pronunciation data guided by the Māori Language Commission and publicly available New Zealand Geographic Board data. A voice actor recorded an extensive script of te reo Māori sounds to feed the model, creating an authentic representation of the language 1

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. The launch prioritizes cities, towns, and certain street names, with plans to expand into more roads and regions moving forward 1

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Māori Data Sovereignty Protects Indigenous Languages

Māori data sovereignty and Google's AI Principles have been central to developing this technology. The commission retains guardianship of the Māori lexicon, ensuring academics, researchers, and communities can access the data. Long-term plans include establishing a group of interested parties for kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the Māori data, allowing communities to share benefits and contribute to the evolution of this work 2

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. This approach demonstrates how private sector companies can collaborate with public organizations while respecting Indigenous data rights.

Timing Aligns With Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Celebrations

The launch arrives as Aotearoa prepares to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori under the theme 'Te Reo Towns,' offering real-time guidance on hearing and saying Māori place names correctly 2

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. The timing underscores the tool's role in normalizing te reo Māori as an everyday language. Apanui-Barr emphasized that "if people hear the language being pronounced properly, they are going to say it properly too," highlighting how the technology supports language journeys for speakers and learners 1

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Broader Implications for Indigenous Languages Globally

This represents the second project emerging from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Google and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori partnership in 2023, following the launch of localized Chromebooks with a reo Māori keyboard 2

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. Several other countries are now on the waitlist for voice capture of their Indigenous languages, with similar projects under way in Australia and the US 1

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. The technology may not capture every te reo Māori word correctly from the start, but linguistic experts at Te Taura Whiri encourage users to submit corrections through their website to teach the technology proper pronunciation 2

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. With te reo Māori experiencing a 15% increase in speakers between 2018 and 2023, making it the second most widely spoken language in New Zealand, this tool arrives at a pivotal moment for language revitalization 1

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