The Kohanga Reo movement hopes ageing kaumatua who have supported the movement for years will be alive when an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing gets under way.
A date for a February hearing is due to be timetabled next month during a judicial conference.
The Waitangi Tribunal granted the urgent hearing on 25 October.
The Kohanga Reo National Trust Board says the tribunal's decision shows there are problems.
Co-chair Tina Olsen-Ratana says it has tried for years to explain its kaupapa to government but only now is it starting to be heard.
She says it is a huge milestone but it feels that as each week passes a pioneer is lost.
Ms Olsen-Ratana says one of her greatest wishes is that everyone in the movement will be around for next year's hearing.
