A national body representing many Maori language immersion schools hopes the funding it receives from Government will not be under threat by an idea to trial charter schools.
Charter schools receive state funding and are not allowed to charge fees, but like private schools they can set teacher pay and their own school day and year.
They are run by companies or non-profit organisations and the Government wants to trial them in south Auckland.
Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa o Aotearoa's chairperson Rawiri Wright says he's surprised the Government has announced the trial so soon after the election.
He says there's room for different options.
But Mr Wright hopes the idea will not result in funding being diverted from Kura Kaupapa Maori to charter schools.
