This article presents findings and analysis of a two-year Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) study that involved cross-sector partnerships between Aoga Amata (Samoan early childhood centres) and English-medium early childhood education (ECE) centres. In the first year, the study engaged Samoan cultural experts, faiaoga (Samoan teachers), and Samoan researchers in the co-design and concep-tualisation of a Samoan pedagogical framework for teaching Samoan pepe meamea (infants and toddlers) in ECE in Aotearoa New Zealand. Six Aoga Amata (full immersion Samoan centres) co-designed the pepe meamea pedagogical framework in the first year. In the second year, English-medium ECE centres joined and partnered with Aoga Amata in cross-cultural mentoring relationships to employ the pepe meamea pedagogical framework to transform the way teachers work with Samoan infants and toddlers. The article presents the framework through five key ma’a tatāo (securing rocks/touchstones). This framework promotes the continuity of Samoan pepe meamea cultural wellbeing and belonging.