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Download AudioA million-dollar boost has been announced for a ground-breaking AI project to help New Zealanders improve their pronunciation of te reo Māori.
Led by the University of Auckland and iwi tech leaders Te Hiku Media, the tool will provide real-time coaching grounded in tikanga Māori.
Pronunciation remains one of the biggest hurdles for beginners. Only 7.9% of New Zealanders say they speak te reo “fairly well” or better, while 80% believe it’s vital to national identity.
Dr Piata Allen, AI Reo Pronunciation Project Lead says there are both positives and challenges to the project, but they’re working to find the best way forward.
The project’s design is guided by Māori Data Sovereignty principles, with Te Hiku’s own Kaitiakitanga licence ensuring Māori control of the language data.
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