Preserving our heritage, conserving our planet – exciting news from Envision New Zealand - New Zealand News Centre

When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited New Zealand three years ago, it was an event on the tech calendar. Friday's Translator announcement made his latest visit a cultural milestone. More than 1000 industry leaders and media filled the room at Auckland's Eden Park where Satya announced the addition of te reo Māori to Microsoft Translator, alongside the 60 languages already supported by the free application. The move will enable anyone around the world to translate text to and from te reo Māori. At a time when just 3 per cent of Kiwis speak te reo Māori, yet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is calling for 1 million additional speakers by 2040, it's crucial that people have the tools to engage with each other in te reo Māori in their everyday lives.