Kaiti School principal Billie Jean Potaka-Ayton says teachers and pupils are excited about defending their top Maori language award honour.
Last November the school's entry in the 2011 Maori Language Awards beat 26 other finalists in 15 categories to win the Supreme Award.
Now the Gisborne school is one of the 30 finalists in this year's awards.
Ms Potaka-Ayton says it's a privilege and an honour to be recognised for the second year in a row, and a fantastic achievement for the pupils.
This year's Maori language week theme was sharing Te Reo and loving it, and as part of its project, the school shared the language with children in Spain, China and Australia.
Maori Language award winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Tauranga next month.
