Maihi Māori Strategy
A key function of Te Mātāwai is to manage services that contribute towards achieving the vision of the Maihi Māori language strategy, which was developed by and for iwi and Māori to lead their own revitalisation efforts.
Kia Ūkaipō anō te Reo is our vision to restore the Māori language as a nurturing first language for our tamariki and mokopuna.
To realise this vision, we want to see two high-level outcomes in homes and communities:
- Tuakiri – use of the Māori language in kāinga, hapori and iwi enhances local identity and community cohesion.
- Whakatupuranga – whānau are supported to re-establish and maintain the Māori language as a first language.
Confident and connected Māori language-speaking whānau and communities who are secure in their cultural identity are essential to the overall wellbeing of whānau.
Goals
By 2040, we intend to be able to state that:
a) One million people or more are using Māori language in community immersion domains.
b) The Māori language has become the first language of 25 percent of all Māori children (aged up to seven years old).
Download Maihi Māori strategy (te reo Māori) [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Download Maihi Māori strategy (English) [PDF, 636 KB]
Our Focus
From 2021-2024, Te Mātāwai prioritises Māori language in kāinga, hapori and iwi because this is where revitalisation thrives.
We will focus our efforts on five outcome areas that we believe will make a difference.
- Whānau wellbeing / oranga o te whānau: more whānau feeling confident in navigating their own Māori language journey
- Immersion domains / rumaki: whānau have increased access to bilingual and immersion domains throughout Aotearoa
- Intergenerational transmission / reo tuku iho: more whānau have increased their daily use of Māori language across generations
- Reo movements / kōkiritanga reo: increased number of whānau connected to movements where Māori language and identity is promoted and enhanced
- Iwi identity / tuakiri: whānau have an improved sense of iwi identity when Māori language is visible and valued at a local and national level
For more information on our priorities, refer to our Statement of Intent 2021-2024.
Te Whare o te Reo Mauriora

Success in revitalising the Māori language requires an active partnership between iwi Māori and the Crown.
Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 provided for each party to produce strategies that set out their part in achieving the purpose of the Act – the Maihi Māori strategy is administered by Te Mātāwai on behalf of iwi Māori, and the Maihi Karauna strategy outlines what the Crown will do to support Māori language revitalisation.
For more information on the Maihi Karauna Strategy, click here.(external link)
Te Mātāwai was established to represent the interests of iwi and Māori and to protect, promote and support language revitalisation at a kāinga, hapori and iwi level.
We are responsible for the use of public funds to achieve the objectives set out in the Maihi Māori strategy.
Every three years, we deliver a Statement of Intent that sets out our plan towards achieving the vision of the Maihi Māori strategy, ‘Kia Ūkaipō anō te Reo Māori’, restoring te reo Māori as a nurturing first language.
Find our Statement of Intent and Annual Reports here.
Our statutory function can be broadly described as the following:
LEADING – where Te Mātāwai has specific responsibilities relating to the Maihi Māori strategy and Māori Television Service
INVESTING – including the provision of services and administration of programmes that contribute to the implementation of the Maihi Māori strategy
INFLUENCING – through the provision of advice and guidance to Ministers, Crown agencies and other contributors to the language revitalisation effort
Section 44 of Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 requires that the Minister for Māori Development must commence a review of Act within three years of it coming into force.
The review is to be conducted in accordance with the terms set by the Minister and Te Mātāwai.