Oropi School is set to receive government funding to promote learning Japanese and Mandarin as part of a drive to boost the learning of Asia Pacific languages.

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has described the need for better communication with the Asia-Pacific region as 'more important than ever” for the next generation as international and trading links grow.

Oropi School has acquired funding to promote learning Japanese and Mandarin. Photo: File.

'Oropi School is part of a group of three schools who have been given a total of $155,824 to enable more classes in Japanese and Mandarin as part of the Asian Language Learning in Schools fund,” explains Todd.

'Our local school is among 22 groups of 129 schools which have received funding from the first round of the $10 million contestable fund over three years.

'The aim of the fund is to increase the provision of Asian languages in our schools.

'Oropi School Principal, Andrew King, and his staff deserve our strongest support for their truly visionary approach to schooling and setting up our kids up for playing a key role in an ever globalised world.”

'As a trading nation, it is important New Zealand's future workforce has the opportunity to learn another language and understand another culture.

'There are also strong cognitive benefits to learning a second language.”

The programmes will begin next year.

Applications for the second funding round are now open, and schools have until September 25 to register their interest.