Kohanga reo - Definition and Overview

The kohanga reo (English: language nests) are kindergartens where all instruction is given in the Maori language.

Kohanga reo were initially established at a time (mid to late 1970s) when there were real fears that the Maori language was dying out. The success of the kohanga reo programme is such that now they have been supplemented with primary schools and secondary schools where Maori remains the primary language of instruction.

The idea behind the kohanga reo has been adopted in a number of other places. The most notable occurrence of this is probably found in the punana leo, which were established in Hawaii to assist in revitalizing the indigenous Hawaiian language.