Google's commitment to te Reo Māori: More than just words

Kia ora koutou! As country director of Google New Zealand, and a passionate advocate for te reo Māori, I'm thrilled to share our small role in celebrating this year's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

If you often use te reo Māori when you're chatting with friends, family or colleagues online, you might find this Chrome extension handy. Google Input Tools makes it easy to add macrons to your writing on a Chromebook, and switch between different languages with just a click. 

If you wish to learn te reo Māori in a fun, interactive way, check out the Kupu app. We worked with Spark on this innovative app that uses Google's tech to turn everyday things into Māori lessons. Just take a photo of something, and the app will say what it is in te reo. Kupu has gotten even better with more words, and recently, a new "Stories" feature where you can share photos and new words with others! It's a great way to make language learning social and enjoyable.

We're also proud to have added Māori to Google Translate over ten years ago. It's been a big help for people learning Māori, Māori communities talking to others, and New Zealand translators. Recently, we added several more Pacific Island languages to Google Translate too, like Fijian and Tok Pisin, which will benefit even more people across the islands.

Finally, I couldn't be prouder of the grassroots initiatives blossoming within the Google New Zealand team. Each week, a dedicated colleague shares new Māori words and phrases during our team call segment "Te Reo Tuesday”, enriching our vocabulary and deepening our connection to the Māori culture. Another colleague of mine has, in consultation with our cultural partner AU, created an engaging online training module for Googlers, delving into Aotearoa's history, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the relevance of Māori values in our workplaces. Whenever we welcome honored guests, the team and I would sing them a Māori song as part of a Māori welcome at the door. These ground-up efforts are invaluable in fostering a deeper appreciation of te ao Māori within our team.

But we know there's still more to do to support and protect this language, which is so important to us in Aotearoa. We’re open to hearing your ideas and thoughts, and excited to see what the future holds for te Reo Māori. I know we can make a real difference in preserving and promoting this beautiful language, and I'm grateful for the chance to be a part of this journey.

He mihi nui ki a koutou katoa! Happy Māori Language Week.