Maori and Pasifika organisations dominate a list of groups that expressed interest in setting up the Government's version of charter schools, the partnership school.
Fifteen of the 36 organisations on the list published on Wednesday are Maori or Pasifika, but it is not known how many went on to make formal applications to run the publicly-funded private schools.
The 12 Maori organisations include an iwi group, Ngati Kahungunu incorporated, and several trusts. There are also three Pasifika groups.
Seven Christian organisations expressed interest, as did five private schools and two state schools, Clayton Park School in Manukau, and Gisborne Girls High School.
At least seven of the organisations on the list went on to apply to set up partnership schools and three of those have been turned down.
Expressions of interest were invited in December last year and were not a pre-requisite for making an application.
Listen to Radio New Zealand's education correspondent