The New Zealand Herald is launching text-to-speech functionality on its website, allowing readers another way to experience its journalism.
The New Zealand Herald is launching text-to-speech functionality on its website, allowing readers another way to experience its journalism.
We’re excited to launch a new way to experience the New Zealand Herald’s award-winning journalism - audio articles.
Starting Monday, March 17, 2025, readers can engage with some of our content through text-to-speech (TTS) technology - an automated voice designed and trained with a special focus on accurate te reo Māori pronunciation.
Text-to-speech is currently available for select articles in the following sections of the New Zealand Herald:
World
Entertainment
Business
Technology
Lifestyle
Sport
Property
Travel
Is it also available for articles in Viva and The Listener. We aim to expand this feature across more sections and stories soon.
While we’re continuously refining it, occasional errors may occur.
You can report any errors via an email to nzhvoice@nzme.co.nz and we will investigate them.
Learn more about stories read by our automated voice, including how to use this and where to find it on Herald articles below:
How to Listen - web/mobile browser
Open the story you wish to listen to and select the play button next to Listen at the top. This is found underneath the headline and the byline. The story will start playing.
If you scroll down the page after a story starts playing, the player will appear on the right-hand side and follow down the page as you scroll:
You can adjust the playback speed, rewind and fast-forward within the player, and hit the cross on the top right to close it:
Mobile view:
Similar to the desktop view, hit the play button by ‘Listen’ under the headline and byline to start listening to the story. The player will follow you down the story as you scroll.
Like on desktop, you can rewind, fast forward, drag to a certain section of the story, or adjust the playback speed:
How to Listen - NZ Herald app
NZ Herald text-to-speech audio articles is now live on our app.
Text-to-speech audio articles is also available for Herald app users.
To listen to the article, simply hit the play button at the top of the article under the author’s name, or hit the headphones icon at the top of the screen. The audio player will appear at the bottom of the screen and move down the page as you read.
If you swipe left or right to read another article, or go back to the home screen, the player will continue playing the article you were listening to, meaning you can listen, scroll and read multiple articles seamlessly.
The audio player continues playing the article you chose to listen to even if you navigate back or swipe left or right to read other articles.
Feedback
We appreciate your feedback as we launch this exciting new feature. Please contact us via email at nzhvoice@nzme.co.nz to tell us what you think or to report errors.
