Banks to provide te reo Maori as a language option on ATMs

Scott Wikohika is pleased to have te reo as an option on Westpac ATMs throughout the country. Photo / Stephen Parker

New Zealand's first bilingual Westpac Branch, Westpac Rotorua, provides te reo Maori as an option on its ATMs.

Since yesterday the 2409 English words on Westpac's 600 ATMS have been translated into te reo Maori, just in time for Te Wiki o te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week).

Maori commercial manager Scott Wikohika said it was a small part of what they did as a team to support local Maori.

"We are trying to make it easier for whanau to interact with the bank. If this can remove some of the obstacles or barriers to engage with the bank that's a fantastic outcome.

"The great thing is it will continue after Maori Language Week."

Westpac isn't the only bank to step up for Maori Language Week.

Karen Scott-Howman, New Zealand Bankers' Association chief executive, said many New Zealand banks were celebrating Maori Language Week and taking the opportunity to participate with their customers and their staff.

To celebrate Matariki and Maori Language Week, ANZ has specially designed Matariki-themed ATMs in Tauranga, Wellington and Kaitaia.

ANZ's head of Maori relationships David Harrison said their contact centre phones also featured music by Maori artists and a short message in English and te reo that said "Your World, Your Way - ANZ is supporting all things Maori. To ao, na to Ara - Kei te whakanui a ANZ i Te Ao Maori."

"We're also running a range of staff activities, including leader messages to staff with greetings and sign off in Maori, educational intranet articles, quizzes and lift signs encouraging staff to get involved (for example, by including te reo in their email signatures, or incorporating key words and phrases in emails to colleagues and customers)," he said.

Kiwibank is encouraging the use of Maori language by using social media channels to share video content of Kiwibank staff speaking and singing common Maori phrases and words, including: 'it's awesome' and 'give it a try'.

"We hope to have this video live by the end of the week. The purpose of the video is to inspire all Kiwis to try te reo and encourage the use of some basic phrases," a Kiwibank spokesman said.

ASB is also celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Maori and does so annually.

"Our people look forward to the week and, on the back of previous Maori Language Week celebrations, a number our people have expressed interest in further education of te reo Maori through the bank," a spokeswoman said.

ASB branches may have their own initiatives to celebrate Maori Language Week, she said.

"Our social media team is also promoting our celebration of the week through our various social channels."