A national organisation that represents many Maori-language immersion schools says a Maori Party policy shows its caucus is serious about developing the country's biculturalism.
The political caucus wants to make te reo Maori compulsory for schools to offer by 2015, if it's elected.
The Maori Party hopes 200 teachers can be attracted to the profession through a bonding scheme.
Te reo would be an option for students, and they wouldn't be forced to take the subject.
Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa chairman Rawiri Wright says it supports the idea because it aims to ensure the survival of the language.
He says it can't be right that New Zealand is one of the few countries that have only one predominant language which is English.
Mr Wright also says a comment by Act Party leader Don Brash about te reo Maori is worthless.
Dr Brash earlier told Radio New Zealand that for most people the language is substantially irrelevant and learning languages such as Spanish and Chinese is more important to the country's future than te reo.
Mr Wright says Dr Brash, a Pakeha, and a non-te reo speaker, doesn't know of the language's importance or value to tangata whenua.
