Use the Māori keyboard
Place names and Māori words often require macrons (the line over the vowel, like this: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū).
Using the Māori keyboard makes it *much* easier to type Macrons. And, it’s useful everywhere – not just in Word.
This section will show you how to add the Māori keyboard to your computer. Note:
- It’s based on a Windows 10 computer. If you have a different computer it may look/work slightly differently.
- If you’re on a shared computer (eg in an office) it would be sensible to check with whoever looks after the computers before making changes.
In the bottom-right, by the clock, you’ll see “ENG”:
Click on this, then “Language Preferences”.
In the “Preferred languages” section, check if Māori is in the list. If not, click “Add a language”.
Search for Maori. When you find it, click on it, then Next.
Tick only “Install language pack”, then the Install button.
It might take a minute to download and install.
Once it’s done, click again on “ENG”. You should now see “Maori keyboard” as an option – click that.
Everything will still be as you’re used to, but you now have shortcuts to using macrons!
Practice point: Install the Māori keyboard so you can easily write macrons.
Using macrons
Open a new blank Word document. Practice writing vowels below. Note the ~ is usually the key on the top-left of your keyboard, above the Tab key.
- ā = press ~ and a at the same time
- ē = press ~ and e at the same time
- ī = press ~ and i at the same time
- ō = press ~ and o at the same time
- ū = press ~ and u at the same time
- Ā = press ~ Shift and a at the same time
- Ē = press ~ Shift and e at the same time
- Ī = press ~ Shift and i at the same time
- Ō = press ~ Shift and o at the same time
- Ū = press ~ Shift and u at the same time
Practice point: Write some words with macrons! Some suggestions: Māori, Mangapēhi, Ngāwī, Taupō, Tūrangi,