Two new charter schools are to be launched next year in the North Island, taking the total number operating in the country to 10.

Education Under-Secretary David Seymour has announced the successful applicants today, one in Hamilton and one in Napier, and both will focus on Maori students.

He sees them as an opportunity to improve education outcomes for Maori students.

"Partnership schools are one of a variety of initiatives that the Government has to attempt to improve outcomes across the education system."

Mr Seymour admits he'd like to see there being more schools and for them to be rolled out faster. But he said, as with any policy, you can go too fast.

"I'm a lot more comfortable going slowly with quality than opening a large number of partnership schools very rapidly at the expense of quality."