Countdown self-checkouts to have te reo Māori option

The collaboration between The Māori Language Commission and Countdown is a world-first for its customers. Photo / Nikki Carroll

Originally published by Māori Television

A collaboration between Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) and Countdown sees customers able to use self-checkouts in te reo Māori.

It's a world-first for Countdown customers to be able to have te reo Māori as a language option at self-service checkouts, with an audio greeting and farewell already established. More audio in te reo Māori will be added to the system in the next few months.

With over three million customers through their stories every week, Countdown Director of Corporate Affairs, Safety and Sustainability, Kiri Hannifin, says it's an opportunity to introduce te reo Māori into everyday things for whānau, which includes shopping for kai.

"Our entire team is incredibly proud that not only can te reo Māori speakers now complete their shopping in their own language, but that we can use our scale and reach to help ensure te reo Māori is revitalised and used for generations to come."

Bilingual signage will be in stores, customer communications will have te reo Māori greetings, and all fish products will have te reo Māori names on their packages as well.

Hannifin says Countdown is grateful to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for their tautoko in bringing the project to life.

She says Countdown stores serve three million Kiwi weekly and employ 21,000 staff, "so we recognise the important role we have to play in supporting the revitalisation of te reo Māori and incorporating it into everyday conversations".

Countdown does "unfortunately get racist comments and complaints. We're always very clear in our responses that we don't accept that sort of feedback, that we are proud to be supporting the use of te reo and that those customers are welcome to shop elsewhere".

- Additional reporting, NZ Herald