The future of the renowned Te Aute College in Central Hawke's Bay is safe after it reached an agreement with the Government over funding.
Both Te Aute and nearby Hukarere Girls' College have been struggling recently, because of insufficient income from 1700ha of farmland which they lease.
Te Aute College is the oldest Maori boys' school in New Zealand and has educated Maori leaders since 1854.
One of the colleges' negotiators, Neville Baker, says discussions have been underway for most of the year with the Ministers of Finance and Maori Affairs.
He says there's an initial commitment to put money up front, but an endowment is needed to keep both schools intact for the future.
The chairperson of the Te Aute Trust Board, Stan Pardoe, says the college is being held back by dormitory renovations and maintenance it cannot afford.
He says it's a misunderstanding to consider Te Aute a church school, as this has never been the case.
