The Cook Islands Democratic Party is promoting the teaching of Te Reo Māori Kuki 'Airani as a way to boost growth in the outer islands.
Cook Islands Democratic Party leader, Tina Browne Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party
Party leader Tina Browne made the announcement as political parties prepare for yet another by-election on the island.
She said her party would allocate funding to help Atiu's Enuamanu School to extend its work geared towards retaining the island's Cook Islands Maori dialect and the local culture.
Teaching of Te Reo could help repopulate outer Cook Islands
"Of course the language in the outer islands is slightly different, a different dialect to Rarotonga, and secondly the dream is that families that are residing in New Zealand and Australia may be tempted enough to send their children and hopefully they will follow back on the island to educate them to speak our own language."
Ms Browne said she believed that would help repopulate Atiu and it could then be extended to other outer islands.