The Waitangi Tribunal has released a scathing assessment of the Crown's performance on te reo Maori in the last 25 years, urging action to halt the decline of the language.

Moves are under way to give Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples closer scrutiny of the estimated $250 million government spend on te reo initiatives.

This week is Maori Language week. Read our editorial in te reo.