New Google Maps Tool Brings Joy Through Accurate Te Reo Māori Pronunciation

A new technological collaboration is set to end decades of poor pronunciation of Māori place names on digital platforms. Following a July launch, Google and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori have introduced an AI-powered text-to-speech (TTS) model designed to correctly pronounce cities and towns across Aotearoa. The tool aims to shift the user experience from one of frustration to one of cultural pride. University of Waikato Associate Professor of Computer Science Te Taka Keegan, who previously worked with Google on translation tools in 2008, described the new model’s pronunciation as beautiful and subtle. Speaking on the impact of the technology, Keegan noted that while Māori speakers already know the correct forms, the tool serves as a transformative resource for non-Māori speakers to learn accurate pronunciation through regular exposure. He shared a personal account of testing the tool with his nine-year-old granddaughter, whose joy at hearing the names spoken correctly highlighted the emotional significance of the project. A key pillar of the initiative is the protection of Māori data sovereignty. Google New Zealand Country Director Caroline Rainsford stated that the company does not intend to own the models. Instead, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori acts as the guardian of the Māori lexicon, granting Google a licence for the TTS model. Plans are also underway for a broader group of interested parties to manage the data, ensuring it remains accessible to researchers and local communities. While Keegan acknowledges the inherent trade-offs when engaging with large tech corporations, he emphasised that this project is unique because Māori retain intellectual property rights over the language data. He views the tool as a positive step toward a future where Māori AI engineers build technology entirely under mana motuhake governance. For now, the focus remains on the immediate benefits of hearing the landscape of Aotearoa reflected through its rightful sounds.