Education Minister Hekia Parata is ruling out a suggestion to establish a third kura kaupapa in Christchurch and says her relocation plan is the only one on offer.
The Government has dropped plans to integrate the city's two total immersion Maori language schools after receiving strong submissions from them both to maintain their individual autonomy.
The Education Ministry wants one of the kura to move into the north of Christchurch to provide better access for tamariki there for instruction in te reo Maori.
However one of the schools - Te Whanau Tahi - says it wants to remain in Spreydon and the National Association of Kura Kaupapa suggests the Government build a new school.
Ms Parata says until there are enough numbers and a strong push to set up a third kura, one of the schools will have to move.
She says over time there maybe sufficient support for more kura kaupapa, but the ministry can only deal with what they know now and what is projected.
The minister says Te Whanau Tahi and Te Kura Whakapumau i Te Reo Tuturu have been given six weeks to consider her proposal and she hopes the two schools will then talk about this together and report back to her.
