A local board is embarking on a project to convince Asian businesses at a town centre that it makes business sense to translate their business signs and menus into English, and providing the translation service to help them do so.

Whau board chairman Derek Battersby said the project, part of a plan to boost the night-time economy for New Lynn, will target 35 mainly Asian food businesses and will take about three months to complete.

A Massey University study claims that the proliferation of signs using ethnic scripts in Auckland was making some Kiwis uncomfortable, and their reactions range from “annoyance” to “repugnance”.

Yesterday, the Herald reported that locals claimed they were missing out because migrant businesses were not translating their signs into English.

Mr Battersby said a big challenge was communication, and his board would engage the services of a consultant and translators to reach the Asian businesses there.

He said the board would provide the translation service for those without the know-how to do it themselves. More.

See: Nzherald.co.nz