The Iwi Chairs Forum it needs to re-market Maori-medium education to whanau who seem to be turning away from it, forum member Haami Piripi says.
A forum hui of more than 30 iwi leaders in Gisborne last week highlighted the need to boost investment into kohanga reo and kura kaupapa, and fast.
Mr Piripi, who is a member of the matauranga-education branch, says there is concern that the momentum for Maori language education is declining.
He says there is a misconception that mainstream education is better than Maori-medium education, which he says is not true.
There is a big job ahead for iwi to re-market kohanga reo, kura kaupapa and whare wananga to whanau, Mr Piripi says.