New Maori Party president Pem Bird says the party cannot let the education system fail another generation of Maori children.
Mr Bird told the Party's annual meeting near Hastings, that a recent report by the Education Review Office revealed how poorly Maori children do at primary and secondary schools.
He said education has to be a priority.
Mr Bird said that if Maori get education right, they will get also get justice, health and employment right.
He said the party has to have a plan to take the interests of Maori children forward.