24 Sep 2012

Digital 'app' in running for Maori language award

11:20 pm on 24 September 2012

Vodafone and a te reo Maori revitalisation company are among the 30 contenders shortlisted as finalists in this year's Maori Language Award.

A series of 15 categories of awards acknowledge the efforts of people promoting Te Reo Rangatira, including contributions by communities, in education and local government.

Vodafone and Hika Group, a company trying to revitalise te reo through modern technology, are finalists in the information technology and telecommunications section.

Vodafone's corporate accounts manager Richard McKenzie says his company has created a Maori-language application that can be downloaded on devices such as smartphones or tablet computers.

He says the application displays phrases in different sections ranging from welcoming visitors to everyday words such as "awesome" (which is "tau ke" in Maori).

Mr McKenzie says when users tap on a word they can change the order of a sentence - which change the meaning - but the software will be fun to use.