KEY POINTS:
A husband and wife team is developing a Maori language version of the search engine Google in an effort to encourage more Maori to use the net.
Potaua Biasiny-Tule, 32, and his Puerto Rican wife Nikolasa, 35, of Rotorua, are directing a team of volunteers from around the country translating the search pages into a Google Maori language option.
And their idea has been welcomed by Google's American owners.
Out of 117 language options, Tongan is the only Pacific tongue recognised. But the couple hope the Maori option will be a hit.
Mr Biasiny-Tule told the New Zealand Herald if Star Trekkies could get a language option then Maori should have no trouble.
"They had Klingon and the Muppets, even Elmer Fudd. We asked ourselves, 'Where was Maori'?"
The project started about five weeks ago and the first of eight pages will be submitted to Google today to coincide with the launch of Maori Language Week.
Mr Biasiny-Tule said Google had provided a template but making sure translations lined up with technology-based Maori words, agreeing on common words across different dialects and relying on a team of volunteers meant the task was time-consuming.
Mrs Biasiny-Tule, a former Waikato University Maori and Pacific development lecturer, said the name of the search option was still up for debate but Google Maori was the most popular one so far.
Maori Language Commission chief executive Huhana Rokx said the initiative was terrific news during Maori Language Week.
"Anything that extends our reo "language" into new dimensions is progress and keeping up with technology is excellent for the development of our reo."
As Maori Language Week gets under way, TradeMe has agreed to translate its tagline "Where Kiwis buy and sell" into te reo.
The tagline will read "Te Papa Hokohoko a nga Kiwi" today and tomorrow.
- NZPA
