It's well known that Google struggles to pronounce place names like Te Puke, but ahead of this year's Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori the colossal tech company is reaching out to New Zealand to help.
Through cooperation with Vodafone and Te Taura Whiriri i Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), Kiwis are able to take part in improving Google pronunciation.
Entitled 'Say it Tika [Right]', the initiative allows New Zealanders to go to the website sayittika.co.nz and drop a pin on where the incorrectly pronounced place name is.
Once the pinning process ends, a list of priority place names will be created; this will be worked on by Google and Te Taura Whiriri i Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission).
Ngahiwi Apanui, Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), says Say it Tika is an important part of spreading te reo Māori.
"Our vision is to have te reo Māori resonate throughout the entire country. We want to see and hear te reo Māori everywhere - on the streets, in shops, in schools, on radio, on TV and online."
The hope is that the new correct place names will be heard across the country towards the end of this year.
Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori, or Maori Language Week, takes place from September 11 - 17.
Newshub.
