A Ngati Toa leader says a survey of its descendants' reo Maori knowledge will help to identify if the iwi has enough orators to man their marae.
The tribe's boundary encompasses the lower North Island to parts of the top of the South Island.
The iwi is surveying its people to find out how, when and where they want to learn Te Reo.
Te Runanga o Ngati Toa Rangatira chair Taku Parai said every iwi and hapu finds it hard to man their paepae or orator benches, as well as having enough kaikaranga or women to call visitors on to Marae.
Mr Parai said the survey is essential because it will show whether they have enough people to run cultural proceedings on the tribe's four marae.
The Ngati Toa Te Reo Maori committee - which is carrying out the research - plans to create targets and strategies after the information is gathered.
