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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Shahana Yasmin

Why Google has launched a new voice for Maps in New Zealand

Google New Zealand
  • Google 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 FULL

Google Maps gets better at pronouncing Māori placenames after years of complaints

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