Te Whanau a Apanui leader Willie Te Aho is pleased an education strategy compiled by the iwi is being taken seriously by the Government.
Mr Te Aho has met with ministry official Tim Greening to discuss the tribe's strategy, which aims to bring rural Bay of Plenty kura under a single learning system.
It wants to address falling achievement rates and school rolls.
He said Education Minister Hekia Parata has compiled her own report and will send it out to school principals and boards in the region next term.
Mr Te Aho said he is happy that the minister and her team have taken time to give the iwi strategy due consideration. He said he had not seen her report, but is pleased with progress.