The Crown has begun its response on Monday to an urgent claim by Te Kohanga Reo Trust.
The Trust says the Crown has failed in its duties under the Treaty of Waitangi and should reduce its involvement with Kohanga to providing funding.
However, the Crown lawyers say the situation is not as stark as the Trust has suggested.
They say it should accept that the Crown can not waive or pare back its responsibilities for Maori children.
The Crown lawyers say the Ministry of Education has worked hard with the trust.
Their evidence is scheduled to continue for the rest of this week.
