This article reports on a research project that sought to identify effective teaching and learning strategies, effective teaching and learning materials, and how teachers assess and monitor the effectiveness of their teaching of reading and writing programs for years 1-5 students in total immersion Maori language (i.e., through the medium of the Maori-language, Maori-medium environments). The research findings identified that teacher efficacy was founded in personal attributes and pedagogical skills that enabled them to create a culturally appropriate and responsive context for learning that promoted literacy skills in their students. During the project consideration was given to approaches fundamental to Kaupapa Maori research in that the issue of in­itiation of the research, who would benefit from the research, ownership of knowledge and intellectual property rights, representation, cultural legitimation, and account­ ability were addressed.