Multilingual receptionist and answering service
A multilingual AI receptionist for New Zealand businesses
Hello is an AI receptionist that speaks your customers' languages. It answers in English, and on Hello Team it can also speak Mandarin, Hindi, Samoan, Tongan, Te reo Māori and more. Callers talk in the language they're comfortable in. Your team still gets every summary in English.
Why it matters in New Zealand
New Zealand is a country of many languages. After English, the most common languages are Te reo Māori, spoken by 4.3% of people, Samoan (2.2%), Mandarin (2.2%) and Hindi (1.6%).
Source: Stats NZ, 2023 Census, languages spoken by region (via Figure.NZ)
In Auckland the numbers are larger still. In the Auckland Region, about 78,000 people speak Mandarin, 75,000 speak Samoan, 50,000 speak Hindi and 29,000 speak Tongan.
Source: Stats NZ, 2023 Census, languages spoken in the Auckland Region (via Figure.NZ)
Many of those people speak English well. But when someone has a sore tooth, a leaking roof or a legal problem, they often find it easier to explain in their first language. A multilingual answering service means they don't have to hang up and ask a family member to ring back for them.
How it works
- Hello answers in English. On Hello Team you choose up to 8 languages, including English.
- Callers can speak the language they're comfortable in, and Hello replies in it.
- Your team still gets the call summary in English, and bookings go into your calendar as usual.
- You set it in the app under Channels > Languages, and Leadica sets up the voices within one business day.
Languages you can choose
English, Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Te reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan. For anything else, email hello@leadica.io.
Setting it up, step by step
- 01Start on Hello Team, or move up from Solo in the app.
- 02Go to Channels > Languages and pick the languages your customers speak, up to eight including English.
- 03Choose how Hello greets callers. Most businesses greet in English and switch when the caller speaks another language. Some greet in another language first.
- 04Leadica sets up the voices within one business day and lets you know when they're ready.
- 05Ring your number and test each language. Ask the questions your customers ask, and check the summary that lands in your inbox.
What Hello does in every language
A multilingual answering service should do the same job in every language, not a cut-down version. Hello answers from the same knowledge whatever language the caller speaks, so your prices, hours and policies stay the same.
- Answers questions from the information you approve
- Books appointments, viewings and quotes into your calendar
- Takes messages with the caller's name and number
- Puts urgent calls through to your team after a text
- Emails your team a summary in English
- Takes a message when it isn't sure, rather than guessing
What businesses use it for
An AI receptionist that speaks Mandarin, Hindi or Samoan helps any business with customers from those communities. These are the most common uses.
Clinics and dentists
Patients describe their symptoms and book in their own language. Your team reads the summary in English before the appointment.
AI receptionist for dentistsProperty, storage and real estate
Answer Chinese-speaking buyers and tenants in Mandarin, and book viewings straight into your team's calendar.
Restaurants, cafes and takeaways
Tourists and visitors ask about your hours, menu and bookings, and get an answer they understand.
AI receptionist for restaurantsTrades and builders
Homeowners whose first language isn't English can explain the job and book a quote without struggling.
AI receptionist for tradiesProfessional services
Accountants, lawyers and immigration advisers serving migrant communities can take enquiries in the language clients are comfortable in.
AI receptionist for professional servicesSalons and barbers
Clients book, move and cancel appointments in Mandarin, Korean or Hindi.
AI receptionist for salons
A Mandarin-first front desk
Here's an example of how a business might set it up. Say a business runs a Chinese-language ad campaign. It sets Hello to greet callers in Mandarin, switch to English when a caller asks, and book viewings into the team's calendar.
The staff who take the viewings only speak English. That's fine. Every booking and every call summary reaches them in English, with the caller's name, number and what they asked about. The caller gets a front desk in their language, and the team works the way it always has.
Te reo Māori and Pacific languages
Te reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan are all on the list, alongside Asian and European languages. On request, we can set up a front desk that speaks te reo Māori and English, or answers in Samoan or Tongan for the callers who prefer it.
Whichever you choose, test it with someone who speaks the language before you go live. Small things, like how your business name and local place names are said, matter to callers. Tell us what to change and Leadica adjusts the voice.
Good to know
- Hello always says it's an AI, in every language.
- Names and addresses are confirmed back to the caller, so spelling mistakes get caught on the call.
- Test each language with a call after setup, before you share your number.
- Languages are on Hello Team and Scale. Solo is English only.
Questions
Which languages can Hello speak?
Hello can speak English, Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Te reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan. For anything else, email hello@leadica.io and we'll tell you what's possible.
Does my team need to speak the language?
No. Hello talks to the caller in their language, and your team gets the call summary in English. Bookings land in your calendar the same way as any other call.
Can it switch language mid-call?
Yes, on request. If a caller asks to speak another of your chosen languages, Hello switches. It switches back to English when they ask.
Which plan includes languages?
Languages are on Hello Team and Scale. You choose up to 8 languages, including English. Hello Solo is English only.
Can it greet in te reo Māori?
Yes, on request. Leadica can set up a front desk that speaks both te reo Māori and English. Ask us when you choose your languages on Hello Team, then test it with a call once it's ready.
Written by Phil Dossett, co-founder of Leadica, the Auckland company that makes Hello. Facts checked 29 October 2026.
Sources
Hear it for yourself
Start the free trial and choose your languages in the app, or call Riley on 09 415 3153 to hear how Hello sounds.
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