31 Oct 2012

New Maori words 'getting out of hand'

5:52 am on 31 October 2012

The Maori Language Commission says the coining of new Maori words is getting out of hand with the creation of new terms for Facebook.

Nearly 90 familiar Facebook terms have been translated after the social networking site stopped recognising what it called minority languages.

Te Taura Whiri language services manager Te Haumihiata Mason says unofficial translations raise a risk of damaging the Maori language and she should have been consulted.

But Karaitiana Taiuru, the IT developer involved in the translations, says it's not uncommon to bypass the commission because of its lengthy approval process, which can take several years.

The Maori Language Commission has since sent the Maori Facebook terms to other translators for comment and is waiting for their feedback.