Auckland rail goes Te Reo

  • 25/06/2018
Newmarket station in Auckland.
Newmarket station in Auckland. Photo credit: Newshub.

Main safety announcements on Auckland train services will, from Monday, be read in both English and Te Reo.

Public Transport Users Association coordinator Jon Reeves says it's a smart move, and opens up the possibility of other languages being added.

"At the end of the day, Auckland Transport is serving public transport users," he told Newshub. "We should have a good look at the total make-up of those passengers, because it could well be we have to put announces in Niuean or Samoan."

Mr Reeves says it could help non-Te Reo speakers learn a thing or two.

"It may help English speaker to learn Māori at the same time - catch the train and learn some Te Reo."

English and Māori are New Zealand' two official tongues. The third official language is New Zealand Sign Language.

Eventually Auckland Transport plans to make all train announcements in both languages.

The initiative comes a day after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed her daughter's Māori middle name.

Newshub.