Parents of students at a Northland school are being inspired by their tamariki to learn te reo Maori.
When Hikurangi School's first total Maori immersion classroom opened in February some students could not speak a word of te reo but after spending five months learning in an environment where only te reo Maori is spoken, they are bringing the language into their homes.
![Maori Language Week](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/NAUH5BU5U2UC7OEO6ZCJOFEVNA.jpg?auth=bf91921785b6f822213d561814297d59472acb1aa55508bab225da5b406bcb20&width=16&height=14&quality=70&smart=true)
"It's been a lot of hard work but the pay off has been great. Last term we had a hui for our whanau just so they could see their tamariki's progress and they were so proud," said teacher Terynne Mills-Barber.
"They couldn't believe their children had the confidence to stand in front of a whole heap of people and deliver their pepeha and waiata."