"This year the symposium was bilingual because we wanted to remove the elitist element from it and make it as accessible as possible to anyone and everyone.
"We tried to showcase people who have travelled this path of learning Māori as a second language to inspire other people to get out there and give it a go, to challenge the unknown," says MacLeod.
He says the point of difference with this symposium, was that almost everyone stayed right through for the two days rather than leaving halfway through.
The large numbers have motivated people. "People are buzzing," he says. "Social media is buzzing, everyone is buzzing, it's really sent a positive vibe throughout the tribe."
MacLeod says the bigger picture now is that each and everyone of the people that took part will take what they have learned back into their communities.
He puts the success of this year's symposium down to great timing and that the huge numbers are a sign of the success of the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc Reo strategy which he says has taken a few years to gain momentum.
It was originally launched in 2006 with the first phase aimed at awakening the people of Ngāti Kahungunu to the state the Māori language was in.
It was then reviewed in 2010 with the second phase of the strategy being released which has been about mobilising Ngāti Kahungunu to learn and improve their language skills.
Holding specialised Māori language events like the symposiums, kura reo, which are week-long language courses that cater to all different levels of language learners.
The Waimarama kura reo has been held since 1989 and is usually held at the start of each year. A second kura reo is held in October which is tailored specifically for Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.
Other initiatives like whai kōrero and karanga wānanga are held with the aim of preserving the language on the marae and inspiring others to learn and understand their tikanga Māori.
Though progress is being made on revitalising the language he says it is no way thriving just yet.
"It's still in a critical condition and we need to keep working hard, It's about the tribe taking charge and it's about trying to unravel 150 years of language decline.