A Rotorua couple have created the world's first Te Reo speaking dolls, in a bid to bring more of the Māori language into their home.
When Kristin Ross & Hohepa Tuahine became parents, they decided to raise their children in a Māori speaking household.
When their daughter wanted a talking doll - as generations of children before her have done - they went shopping for a doll with some Māori phrases, greetings and songs.
When they couldn't find any, the couple decided to come up with their own Te Reo speaking dolls.
The dolls are soft and cuddly, with brown skin tones, and are slightly larger than Cabbage Patch dolls.
Kristin Ross & Hohepa Tuahine have created Pipi Ma dolls that speak Te Reo Māori. Photo: RNZ
There are four characters - Pipi, Titoki, Hura and Pītau Pōtiki - and when you press each doll they speak in Te Reo, giving a range of eight phrases as well as a song.
Ms Ross said they wanted to make the Māori language normal.
"It can't be confined to just school or the marae or to kohanga reo, it needs to be absolutely everywhere."
The dolls are available online at www.pipima.co.nz.
Kristin Ross & Hohepa Tuahine have created Pipi Ma dolls that speak Te Reo Māori. Photo: RNZ
