AUCKLAND, Today: Ōtautahi-based creative agency Not Another™ is launching a first-of-its-kind Slack app aimed at teaching millions of Slack users worldwide to speak Te Reo Māori.
This innovative tool is the first Slack app ever created for learning an indigenous language, accessible to over 40 million users globally at no charge.
The app, named Daily Te Reo Māori, integrates Te Reo learning into users’ daily Slack interactions by sending a Māori word or phrase each morning, promoting language acquisition alongside cultural and communal engagement within workplaces.
Mark Townshend, co-founder of Not Another™, says, “Not only is this app a technological innovation, but it’s also a cultural bridge.”
He adds, “Our goal was to create something that not only teaches a language but fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of Māori culture.”
The app demonstrates Not Another™’s commitment to using digital innovation for social and cultural betterment.
“We’ve built a technology that allows us to a design custom text tile then have variations of that tile broadcast to millions of people via Slack.”
Mark Townshend explains the motivation behind the app: “There’s a groundswell of interest in learning Te Reo Māori at the moment and so we want to use our creative and technical skills to support that.”
He proudly notes, “It’s mahi we’re very proud of.”
Building on their cultural initiatives, Not Another™ also introduced Ngā Taonga o Te Ao Māori (The Gifts of the Māori World), a free video course aimed at promoting Māori culture globally.
Josiah Komene, Not Another’s Kaitohutohu (Advisor) Māori, states, “We’re on a mission to do whatever we can to help preserve and promote Te Reo Māori with Aotearoa and the world.”
The app paves the way for future applications in education and communication, as Not Another™ sees it as a versatile tool for various uses.
Adrien Taylor, co-founder of Not Another™, emphasises the app’s broad potential: “We’ve built a technology that allows us to a design custom text tile then have variations of that tile broadcast to millions of people via Slack. The potential applications of that are enormous.”
Taylor is looking to expand the app’s reach: “We want to hear from the likes of newsrooms, language teachers, and business leaders who’d be interested in having us build them their own Slack app.”
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