"We're committed to providing a service that recognises their needs, and that includes providing dedicated teams who not only speak Mandarin or Cantonese, but also have a deep-seated understanding of Chinese culture and values."
Vodafone stores will also feature Chinese translated signage, point of sale materials, and advertising.
Mai Chen, chair of NZ Asian Leaders, said Red Connect is a welcome addition to the expanding range of services tailored for Chinese Kiwis.
"Some of our members have already trialled Vodafone's Red Connect service and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It means a great deal to the growing Chinese population in New Zealand that firms like Vodafone are investing in them and focused on meeting their specific needs," Chen said.
Vodafone have parterned with a Chinese digital agency for Red Connect in order to keep up with Chinese social media trends and customer needs.
"When people call our customer services team they expect us to resolve their query as quickly and painlessly as possible. By removing the language barrier for our Chinese speaking customers, we're aiming to make their interaction with us seamless and enjoyable - it's all about improving the customer experience and building the relationship," Shields said.
She told the Herald Vodafone had already run a pilot programme with 20,000 Chinese customers and that the feedback had been "fantastic".
"This is an extremely positive step for Vodafone," she said.
According to Statistics NZ, New Zealand's Chinese population is expected to grow by more than 80 per cent over the next eight years.
