The term Kaupapa Maori captures Maori desires to affirm Maori cultural philo­ sophies and practices. In short Kaupapa Maori is about being "fully" Maori} These desires have only rarely been recognized by the mainstream education system that has at various times sought to "civilize," "assimilate," and “integrate" Maori. The strug­gle by Maori for control over how Maori children and young people are educated has led to the establishment of Kaupapa Maori education initiatives across all educational levels. These initiatives are exemplary in that they reflect Maori aspirations and con­tinue to produce bicultural, bilingual, confident, and well-educated Maori. This ar­ticle outlines the key elements underpinning these initiatives largely through an exploration of the writings that have emerged from Maori education staff and stu­ dents at the University of Auckland. A self-determination, anti-colonial education agenda emerges that is firmly based in Maori language and cultural ways of being.