Last updated 21:05, May 23 2018
MAORI TV/FACEBOOK
McDonald's Carmel Berghan said offing a te reo menu is a first and they are all embracing it in Hastings.
Hastings McDonald's launches bilingual menus, written in both English and Māori, with plans to roll it out to all McDonald's restaurants in Hawke's Bay.
The busiest McDonald's in Hawke's Bay will be the first in the country to offer a menu written in both English and te reo, Māori TV reports.
A selection of menu items at the Hastings restaurant have been translated onto a menu card for customers who choose to use the Māori names when ordering.
McDonald's operations manager Hawke's Bay, Carmel Berghan told Māori TV: "It's amazing. It really is amazing and as I said it's a first and we're all embracing it".
McDonald's Carmel Berghan said offing a te reo menu is a first and they are all embracing it in Hastings.
It is expected the menus will be rolled out at the other three McDonald's in Hawke's Bay.
About 60 per cent of the restaurant's staff identify as Māori, but Māori TV's Te Kaea reported all are giving the new words a go.
Customers can choose to use a bilingual menu card to help them order a Pākī heihei, or McChicken, and a variety of other McDonald's favourites.
"Some of them were a wee bit nervous but I hear in the staff room - we have menus in there - people are trying to get their pronunciations right and there's giggles and laughter but everyone is actively trying to do their bit to make it work," said Berghan.
Staff member Cindy Mareikura agreed, saying, "Kia kaha ae, kia kaha, give it heaps. It's good, something new, for some it's a challenge and it's a good challenge".