Google Maps has finally learned to speak te Reo Māori - with a Kiwi accent

Ever had Google Maps on to guide you during a road trip, but ended up even more confused by the pronunciation of some of Aotearoa’s Māori-named roads or destinations? 

In some HUGE news announced today, that’s now a thing of the past - and much overdue, if you ask us Kiwis.

Google and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) have worked together to launch the first New Zealand voice in Google Maps with place names said the way they should sound!

It’s an AI-powered Text to Speech (TTS) model that speaks English with a proper Kiwi accent and can correctly pronounce cities and towns with te reo Māori names.

Honestly, hearing it for the first time brings a sense of pride - listen to it yourself!

Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri, said, “This exciting tool secures a future for te reo Māori in the digital age. We are proud to make New Zealand’s unique language visible, valued and voiced.”

“Like all other languages, Māori placenames 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.

The exciting update comes as we gear up to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 in September.

This year’s theme is ‘Ake, Ake, Ake - A Forever Language’, with a focus on Te Reo Towns and recognising the communities already leading the way.

Google’s Kiwi voice is just another way to regularly hear and correctly pronounce Māori place names - so get your whānau onto it… especially that one uncle you’ve been trying to correct for years.

The update is rolling out over the next two weeks, and while the AI is smart, it might not get every single street name perfect from the get-go. 

If you hear a word that’s not quite right, don’t just side-eye your phone - help teach it! You can submit corrections directly through the Te Taura Whiri website. They’ll be updating more streets and roads moving forward.

Reckon they’ve already covered Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turi­pukaka­piki­maunga­horo­nuku­pokai­whenua­ki­tana­tahu? I need someone to check ASAP!