Kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa are breathing new life into the Māori language.
This comes after the latest statistics were revealed in a report showing the survival of the language goes hand-in-hand with its culture and surroundings.
According to statistics, half the number of Māori who have ever been enrolled in both kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa can speak te reo Māori well or very well.
Siblings Te Ataakura and Te Aorere Pewhairangi are an example of what Statistics Aotearoa have shown.
They both went through Mana Tamariki's kōhanga reo and the kura kaupapa system in Palmerston North.
Now, Te Aorere is studying at Massey University, and they are both workers at Māori Television, with Te Ataakura playing the main role as Dora on our popular children's show, 'Dora Mataatoa'.
The recent report confirms that te reo Māori ability and use has a strong connection with participation in Māori culture.
The Pewhairangi siblings also say that their mother is of Irish descent and English is her first language, so it's clear that any family wanting to pursue te reo should definitely have a go.