Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing (DRTM) has expanded the language area of its website, www.rotoruaNZ.com, to commemorate Maori Language Week.

Mauriora Kingi, director of Kaupapa Maori at the Rotorua District Council, helped record 40 Maori words at a local studio. The audio focuses on local lake and place names, and some common words that visitors are likely to come across while visiting Rotorua; words such as morena, hangi, manuhiri, haere mai, marae, hongi, kia ora and haka.

DRTM communications manager Jill Marshall said the addition of the audio buttons to the website aims to encourage visitors - New Zealanders and internationals alike - to attempt a few simple Maori words.

“While it is fine to have the words, accents and vowel sounds shown as text on the site as we have in the past, we believe that hearing the words spoken slowly and clearly by a fluent te reo Maori speaker will help people grasp the correct pronunciation, and therefore feel more confident about giving it a go,” Jill said.

DRTM plans to enter the new website audio project in the first-time entrant category of this year’s Maori Language Week Awards.

Maori Language Week starts today (21 July) and runs until July 27.