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Te Taura Whiri, the Māori language Commission, is heartened with a growing acceptance of te reo Māori in the wider population.
Chief executive Ngahiwi Apanui says the commission now has agreements with 36 government departments and agencies to help them develop language plans.
In recent months a number of large companies and private sector organisations have also sought help.
He says it confirms a Statistics New Zealand survey released at the last Māori Language Week which found more than half of New Zealanders now want te reo Māori taught in all primary schools.
"And that’s a big statement to the government and everyone else that the appetite for te reo Māori is becoming bigger and bigger. The bulk of those who supported Māori being a core subject in primary schools were under 40. The stats are all pointing in the right direction in terms of the numbers of new Zealanders who value te reo Māori and that’s our primary function really," Mr Apanui says.
Te Taura Whiri hopes to get more money in this year’s Budget to help more organisations plan for increasing their use of te reo Māori.
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