More Pasifika are studying Te Reo Maori at Te Wananga Aotearoa, the New Zealand tertiary education provider says.
Today Te Wananga launches its 2020 programme with a welcome for about 1500 students enrolled to learn Te Reo Rangatiro at its Auckland campus.
The programme is in its second year, and Head of Student Experience Shanan Halbert said he was happy to see more Pasifika motivated to learn how to speak Te Reo Maori with confidence.
"We have a large whanau. We have a high percentage of the local Pacific community and new migrants coming through to study Te Reo Maori which we think is great," Mr Halbert said.
Shanan Halbert of Te Wananga Aotearoa. Photo: Supplied
"So I know that 30 percent of our roll in Auckland are our whanau from Te Moana Nui A Kiwa - from the Pacific Islands. So a large number of Pacific students are studying with us."
More than 30000 students will start their academic year at Te Wananga campuses across the country in March
"They study anything from business, education and social services right through to Te Reo," Mr Halbert said.
"Forty percent of our student body is Whakapapa Maori and we also have a strong European female contingent studying Te Reo Maori."