The Maori Party is backing two new charter schools, both of which will have kaupapa Maori as part of their special character.
Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology in Rotorua and Blue Light Senior Boys High School in Taupo will open their doors in term 1 of 2018.
They will be operated by Rotorua iwi Ngati Whakaue and Blue Light Ventures respectively.
Both are in Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell's Maori electorate of Wairiki.
He said that charter schools have often given better outcomes for Maori youth than the standard education system.
"The two schools we're talking about here are providing that opportunity with kaupapa Maori embedded in how the education option is offered, and that comes on the weight of evidence and is going to deliver the results."
He said he hopes it "will set them up for a bright future, and that is in some cases actually contrary to what the school system has done over a number of years."
Mr Flavell also said he thinks charter schools could be a major battleground in the fight with Labour for the Maori electorates in 2017.
The Labour Party strongly opposes charter schools, with Education spokesman Chris Hipkins writing a member's bill to abolish the model.
Labour's Maori MPs supported the bill, which was defeated at it's first reading 63-57.
"Clearly we're going to be at different ends of the spectrum with respect to support for such as option, which as I say delivers the goods. It must be supported," said Mr Flavell.
Today's partnership announcement was made by Education Under-Secretary and ACT Party leader David Seymour in Rotorua.
He said both communities want better schools in their area, and partnership schools have allowed that.
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