Google Maps gets Kiwi accent update with correct te reo Māori pronunciation

Google Maps is rolling out a major update for New Zealand users, introducing a new AI-powered Kiwi voice capable of correctly pronouncing te reo Māori place names.

The update is available from today and will be progressively released to users over the next two weeks, replacing the often incorrect pronunciations that have frustrated many Kiwis for years.

Google says the new Text-to-Speech (TTS) model speaks English with a New Zealand accent while accurately pronouncing Māori place names within the same sentence.

The technology was developed through a multi-year partnership between Google and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori [the Māori Language Commission], with pronunciation rules guided by the commission and publicly available data from the New Zealand Geographic Board.

Google New Zealand country director Caroline Rainsford said advances in artificial intelligence, combined with local expertise, made the update possible.

"I'm incredibly excited for New Zealanders to experience this new local voice in Google Maps.

"Two things have been critical to the success of this update: advancements in AI have enabled our Text to Speech model to pronounce te reo Māori place names in an English sentence. And importantly, this would not have been possible without our years-long partnership and deep collaboration with Te Taura Whiri.

"We're so proud to be able to launch this voice in New Zealand because we know how important it is to pronounce our local place names correctly."

According to Google, the first phase focuses on cities and towns with Māori names, while support for more street and road names will be added over time. The company also says the AI will continue to improve as it receives more feedback from users.

Te Taura Whiri chief executive Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr said correct pronunciation is about far more than navigation.

"This exciting tool secures a future for te reo Māori in the digital age. We are proud to partner with Google to make New Zealand's unique language visible, valued and voiced.

"Like all other languages, Māori place names carry stories that connect us to our histories, people and achievements. The first step to unlocking those stories is correct pronunciation. If we can hear the words said correctly, we can say the words correctly. This is an important step forward in making te reo Māori a normal, everyday language."

Google acknowledges the technology won't get every Māori word right immediately and is encouraging users to help improve it.

Anyone who hears an incorrect pronunciation can submit feedback through the Te Taura Whiri website, allowing the AI model to learn and refine its pronunciation over time.

The Maps update is the second initiative to come from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Google and Te Taura Whiri in 2023. The partnership previously resulted in a localised Chromebook featuring a dedicated te reo Māori keyboard.