Understanding how to undertake Kaupapa Maori research can be a challenge for emerging health researchers. Unless emerging researchers have exposure to Kaupapa Maori theory or senior Maori health research expertise, the challenge of undertaking Kaupapa Maori research within health research contexts can seem daunting, and for some, too difficult to attempt. This article summarizes what an Indigenous positioning means to me as a health researcher, medical practitioner, academic and Maori community member, and why it is more than just a methodological approach. The theoretical basis of Kaupapa Maori - what it is, how it emerged and what it means for my own research practice - is explored. How Kaupapa Maori interacts with Pacific research methodologies, particularly when health research involves both Maori and Pacific participants, is discussed. It is hoped that this article will assist emerging researchers (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) to embrace Indigenous-appropriate research approaches within their own work.